TMC leaders face FIR in Kolkata over July 21 Martyrs' Day traffic block
Synopsis
An FIR against three senior TMC leaders for blocking a Kolkata road is only the surface story. Beneath it lies a deeper fracture: two rival TMC factions are fighting over who gets to hold the party's most iconic annual rally on July 21 — and the police must now pick a side.
Key Takeaways
An FIR was filed on 29 June against TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen, and Baiswanor Chattopadhyay at Hare Street Police Station, Kolkata .
The three leaders allegedly blocked the road near Victoria House, Esplanade from 2:50 pm to 4 pm on 28 June during a stage-inspection visit.
A rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has separately sought police permission for the same July 21 Martyrs' Day event, claiming to be the 'real Trinamool Congress.' Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari mocked the intra-party dispute in the state Assembly on Monday.
The July 21 rally commemorates 13 people killed during a Youth Congress demonstration led by Mamata Banerjee on 21 July 1993 .
An FIR was registered on Monday, 29 June against All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen, and Baiswanor Chattopadhyay at Hare Street Police Station in Kolkata for allegedly blocking a road in the Esplanade area during peak hours while inspecting a site for the party's annual July 21 Martyrs' Day stage. The incident has since spiralled into a wider political controversy, with a rebel TMC faction also staking claim to the same programme.
What the FIR Says
According to police, the three leaders blocked the road in front of Victoria House in central Kolkata from 2:50 pm to 4 pm on 28 June while conducting a site inspection for the party's stage setup. The disruption during peak hours inconvenienced daily commuters, prompting the Hare Street Police Station to file the FIR. A notice has been issued to all three leaders, asking them to respond.
Opposition Takes a Dig
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari used the incident as an opportunity to target the TMC in the state Assembly on Monday. Adhikari recalled that the police had originally granted permission only for a roadside meeting — not a full road closure — when TMC sought clearance for its programme on Rani Rashmoni Road. In a sarcastic remark, he noted that one TMC faction was claiming to be the 'real' party while the other was being called 'lampposts.' He added: 'If they want, they should go to the Brigade' — referring to Brigade Parade Ground, a traditional venue for large political rallies in Kolkata.
Two Factions, One Programme
The FIR comes amid a deepening internal rift within the TMC over who controls the July 21 Martyrs' Day rally. The faction led by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had approached Kolkata Police for permission to hold the event in the Esplanade area. A rebel faction — led by Ritabrata Banerjee, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly — has separately written to the police on Saturday evening, also seeking permission to hold the same event, claiming to represent the 'real Trinamool Congress.'
The Significance of July 21
The Martyrs' Day rally is among the most politically charged events in West Bengal's calendar. It commemorates the 13 people killed during a demonstration by the West Bengal Youth Congress — then led by Mamata Banerjee — on 21 July 1993. For decades, the rally served as a show of strength for the TMC, drawing massive crowds even during the party's years in opposition against the Left Front government. Now, after more than fifteen years in power, the contest over who gets to hold the rally exposes an unusual vulnerability: the party is fractured enough that its own signature event has become a battleground.
What Happens Next
The Kolkata Police must now decide which faction — if either — receives formal permission for the 21 July event at Esplanade. The three leaders named in the FIR are expected to respond to the police notice in the coming days. The outcome of the permission dispute is likely to determine which faction can claim symbolic ownership of the Martyrs' Day legacy — and, by extension, the TMC brand itself.
Point of View
But the political context is anything but. The fact that a rebel TMC faction is contesting ownership of the party's most emotionally loaded annual event — Martyrs' Day — signals a structural crack, not a mere personality dispute. For a party that built its identity on the July 21 narrative, losing control of that ritual would be a symbolic blow far larger than any FIR. The Kolkata Police's permission decision will be watched closely: grant it to the Mamata camp and the rebels gain a grievance; grant it to the rebels and the establishment faction faces humiliation on its own turf.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was an FIR filed against TMC leaders in Kolkata?
An FIR was filed against TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen, and Baiswanor Chattopadhyay at Hare Street Police Station for allegedly blocking a road near Victoria House in Esplanade, central Kolkata, from 2:50 pm to 4 pm on 28 June. The trio was conducting a site inspection to set up a stage for the party's July 21 Martyrs' Day programme, which police said disrupted peak-hour traffic.
What is TMC's July 21 Martyrs' Day?
Martyrs' Day is the All India Trinamool Congress's annual rally held on 21 July to commemorate 13 people killed during a demonstration by the West Bengal Youth Congress — then led by Mamata Banerjee — on 21 July 1993. It is one of the most significant political events in West Bengal's calendar and has historically served as a major show of strength for the TMC.
Who is the rebel TMC faction contesting the July 21 event?
A rebel faction of the TMC, led by Ritabrata Banerjee — who also serves as Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal state Assembly — has approached the Kolkata Police separately for permission to hold the Martyrs' Day programme. The group claims to represent the 'real Trinamool Congress' and sent a letter to police on Saturday evening.
What did Suvendu Adhikari say about the controversy?
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari used the incident to mock the TMC in the state Assembly on Monday, noting that police had permitted only a roadside meeting — not a full road closure. He sarcastically remarked that one TMC faction was calling itself the real party while the other was being called 'lampposts,' and suggested they use Brigade Parade Ground instead.
What happens next in the July 21 permission dispute?
The Kolkata Police must decide which faction receives formal permission to hold the Martyrs' Day event at Esplanade on 21 July. The three leaders named in the FIR are also expected to respond to the police notice in the coming days. The outcome will carry significant symbolic weight for both factions of the TMC.
