Kolkata Police bars TMC factions from July 21 Martyrs' Day rally at Esplanade
Synopsis
Kolkata Police has denied permission to both warring TMC factions to hold the July 21 Martyrs' Day rally at the party's decades-old Esplanade venue — a decision that strips the politically charged event of its symbolic anchor and lays bare the depth of the split within Mamata Banerjee's party.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police has barred both TMC factions from holding the July 21 Martyrs' Day rally at the traditional CESC House, Esplanade venue.
Prohibitory orders restricting gatherings beyond a specified number are already in place at the location.
Police filed a case against Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen and legislator Kunal Ghosh for obstructing traffic during stage-measurement work on Sunday .
The rally commemorates the killing of 13 youth Congress workers on 21 July 1993 under the CPI(M) -led Left Front government.
Both the Mamata Banerjee–Abhishek Banerjee faction and the Ritabrata Banerjee -led expelled group had separately sought permission for the same venue.
Neither faction had announced an alternative venue as of Tuesday .
Kolkata Police has informed both factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) that the annual Martyrs' Day rally on July 21 will not be permitted at the party's traditional venue — in front of CESC House at the Esplanade crossing in central Kolkata. The decision, communicated on Tuesday, affects both the faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, and the rival group led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee.
What the Police Said
A city police officer stated that prohibitory orders restricting the assembly of more than a specified number of people are already in force at and around the venue. 'No one will be allowed to organise any programme in front of Victoria House on July 21,' the officer said, citing the location's status as a busy prime crossing in the heart of the city on a working day.
What Led to the Ban
Tensions escalated after leaders from Mamata Banerjee's faction — including party legislator Kunal Ghosh and Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen — were seen taking measurements in front of CESC House on Sunday as part of stage-setting preparations. Kolkata Police subsequently filed a case against Dola Sen and Kunal Ghosh for obstructing traffic during the exercise. Following the incident, the police took a formal decision to deny permission to both factions for the July 21 programme at that location.
The Significance of Martyrs' Day
The Martyrs' Day rally is one of the most politically charged annual events in West Bengal. It commemorates the killing of 13 youth Congress workers on 21 July 1993 during the CPI(M)-led Left Front government, when the late Jyoti Basu was Chief Minister of the state. The rally was originally a Congress event but became a TMC-organised affair after Mamata Banerjee broke away from the Congress to form the Trinamool Congress in 1998. With very few exceptions, the rally has been held in front of CESC House every year since.
A Split Party, A Split Rally
This year's standoff is complicated by the internal fracture within the TMC itself. Both factions had independently sought police permission to hold the event at the same traditional venue — a move that underscores the deepening rift within the party. The police refusal effectively sidelines both groups from the symbolic location, leaving each faction to seek alternative arrangements for the politically significant date.
What Happens Next
Neither faction has publicly announced an alternative venue as of the police communication on Tuesday. The development is likely to intensify the political contest between the two TMC groupings over which side can claim the legacy of Martyrs' Day. With July 21 approaching, both factions are expected to announce fresh plans in the coming days.
Point of View
Which reports to the state government, is drawing a firmer line than usual. Whether this is neutral law enforcement or a calibrated political signal will be closely watched.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Kolkata Police banned the TMC Martyrs' Day rally at Esplanade?
Kolkata Police has refused permission for the July 21 Martyrs' Day rally at the traditional CESC House venue, citing prohibitory orders already in place and the location's status as a busy prime crossing on a working day. The decision applies to both factions of the Trinamool Congress.
What is Martyrs' Day and why is it significant for the TMC?
Martyrs' Day on July 21 commemorates the killing of 13 youth Congress workers on 21 July 1993 during the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in West Bengal. After Mamata Banerjee founded the Trinamool Congress in 1998, the annual rally became the party's most prominent show of political strength.
Why were Dola Sen and Kunal Ghosh booked by Kolkata Police?
Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen and party legislator Kunal Ghosh were booked for obstructing traffic while taking measurements in front of CESC House on Sunday as part of stage-setting preparations for the rally. The incident prompted the police to formalise the ban on both factions.
Which TMC factions sought permission for the July 21 rally?
Two factions applied separately — one led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, and another led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. Both sought the same traditional Esplanade venue, and both were denied.
What happens to the Martyrs' Day rally now?
As of the police communication on Tuesday, neither faction had announced an alternative venue. Both groups are expected to declare fresh plans ahead of July 21, with the contest over the rally's legacy likely to intensify the public split within the party.
