TMCP moves Calcutta HC for rally permit on Aug 28 foundation day
Synopsis
With Kolkata Police silent on three rally requests, the Mamata Banerjee-loyal rump of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad has taken its foundation day rally battle to the Calcutta High Court — a telling sign of how completely the post-election TMC collapse has disrupted even the party's most routine annual rituals.
Key Takeaways
The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) moved the Calcutta High Court on 17 August for permission to hold a rally on 28 August , its foundation day.
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya admitted the petition and listed it for hearing on 19 August .
Kolkata Police did not respond to three letters sent on 27 July , 3 August , and 7 August .
The petitioner is the 'original but minority' faction loyal to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee .
The TMC has split into three factions after its defeat in the West Bengal assembly polls; one bloc joined the NCPI , another rallied behind expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee .
The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the students' wing of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), on Monday, 17 August moved the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to hold a rally in Kolkata on 28 August — the occasion of its foundation day. The petition was admitted by a single-judge bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, who posted the matter for hearing on 19 August.
Why the Court Had to Step In
According to the petitioner's counsel Arka Kumar Nag, the TMCP had sent three separate letters to Kolkata Police — on 27 July, 3 August, and 7 August — informing authorities of the planned rally. As of the date of filing, no response had been received from the police, prompting the organisation to seek judicial intervention. The petition requests permission to hold the rally at its traditional venue: the base of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Mayo Road in central Kolkata, where the foundation day rally has been organised every year.
The Faction Behind the Petition
The petition was filed by the TMCP faction that remains aligned with former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. This group is described as the 'original but minority' faction of the Trinamool, reflecting the broader fragmentation the party has undergone following its electoral setback in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly polls.
TMC's Three-Way Split After Assembly Polls
The West Bengal assembly election outcome proved devastating for the Trinamool. In its aftermath, the party fractured into three distinct groups. A bloc of Trinamool's Lok Sabha members defected to the National Citizens' Party of India (NCPI). A second, reportedly larger group — described as the 'rebel but majority' faction — coalesced around expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, who currently serves as Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. The third and smallest group, loyal to Mamata Banerjee, is the one now before the Calcutta High Court.
What Happens Next
The Calcutta High Court is scheduled to hear the petition on 19 August. The outcome will determine whether the Mamata-aligned TMCP faction can hold its traditional foundation day rally at Mayo Road on 28 August. The case underscores how the Trinamool's internal rupture is now playing out in courtrooms and not just in political corridors, with even routine organisational events becoming flashpoints in the post-election power struggle.
Point of View
It reads as a political signal. The Calcutta HC hearing on 19 August will be watched closely: whichever faction secures the Mayo Road venue on 28 August effectively wins the symbolism of continuity, which in fractured-party politics is often more valuable than numbers.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the TMCP approach the Calcutta High Court for rally permission?
The TMCP's Mamata Banerjee-loyal faction moved the Calcutta High Court because Kolkata Police did not respond to three written requests — sent on 27 July, 3 August, and 7 August — seeking permission for a foundation day rally on 28 August. With no police clearance and the event approaching, the organisation sought judicial intervention.
When will the Calcutta High Court hear the TMCP rally petition?
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya admitted the petition on 17 August and scheduled the hearing for 19 August. The court's order will determine whether the rally can proceed at the traditional Mayo Road venue on 28 August.
Which TMCP faction filed the petition?
The petition was filed by the faction that remains loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. It is described as the 'original but minority' faction of the Trinamool following the party's post-election split.
How has the Trinamool Congress split after the West Bengal assembly polls?
The TMC fractured into three groups after its assembly election defeat. One set of Lok Sabha members joined the National Citizens' Party of India (NCPI); a second, reportedly larger 'rebel' faction formed around expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, now Leader of Opposition; and a third, smaller group remains with Mamata Banerjee.
Where is the TMCP foundation day rally traditionally held?
The TMCP has traditionally organised its foundation day rally at the base of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Mayo Road in central Kolkata. The current petition seeks permission to use the same venue for the 28 August event.
