TMC rally in Kolkata Tuesday: Mamata Banerjee may lead march demanding CEC resignation
Synopsis
TMC has called a 'massive protest march' in Kolkata on Tuesday demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation — and Mamata Banerjee may personally lead it if she returns from New Delhi in time. With Durga Puja days away and police permission still uncertain, the rally could escalate or collapse before it begins.
Key Takeaways
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced a protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 .
The primary demand is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
Mamata Banerjee may lead the rally; her participation is described by insiders as 'tentative' pending her return from New Delhi .
The march will run from Rajabazar in North Kolkata to Park Circus in central Kolkata — both minority-dominated areas.
The BJP has condemned the timing as a deliberate disruption of the Durga Puja festive atmosphere.
Kolkata Police has yet to confirm whether permission for the rally will be granted.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a large-scale protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, centred on a demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The rally, described in party literature as a 'massive protest march', is set to begin at Rajabazar in North Kolkata and culminate at Park Circus in central Kolkata.
Mamata Banerjee's Participation: Tentative but Likely
While the party has not made a formal announcement, insiders within the Banerjee-led faction indicated on Monday that she could personally lead the procession. 'Till now we are saying that her presence at the Kolkata rally is tentative since she is still in New Delhi to be part of the protest movements there. But if she returns tonight or even tomorrow morning, she will surely lead the rally in Kolkata,' a senior faction leader said. Her participation would significantly raise the political profile of an event that is already drawing wide attention ahead of Durga Puja.
What the Protest March Demands
According to a pamphlet circulated on Monday, the march carries multiple agendas. The primary demand is the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The party also alleges 'suppression of democracy' by the Centre, protests the reported detention of Mamata Banerjee in New Delhi, and objects to what it describes as the 'oppression' of the opposition — including new-generation protesters. The pamphlet specifically appeals to students, youth, women and workers to participate.
Route and Political Significance of Chosen Venues
Both Rajabazar and Park Circus — the rally's start and end points — are widely recognised as significant minority-dominated pockets of the city. The choice of these localities is being read by political observers as a deliberate outreach to a demographic that has historically been a core constituency of the TMC.
BJP Criticism and the Durga Puja Timing
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state leadership has sharply criticised the timing of the event, describing it as a deliberate attempt to disturb the festive atmosphere in Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja, which begins later this week. The BJP argues that organising a high-decibel political rally at this juncture is insensitive and disruptive to preparations for one of Bengal's most important cultural festivals.
Police Permission and What Happens Next
A key question hanging over the rally is whether Kolkata Police will grant the necessary permission, given the potential for significant traffic disruption along the proposed route. It remains unclear what contingency the TMC faction has planned if permission is denied. The unresolved permission question, combined with uncertainty over Banerjee's return from New Delhi, makes Tuesday's events difficult to predict with precision. The outcome of this rally is likely to set the tone for the TMC's broader agitation strategy in the days ahead.
Point of View
But the pamphlet's wider grievance list suggests a party using a single flashpoint to roll several campaigns into one. Notably, the timing — days before Durga Puja — is a double-edged sword: it maximises media attention but hands the BJP a ready-made cultural grievance to exploit. Whether Kolkata Police, which reports to the state government the TMC controls, grants or denies permission will itself be read as a political signal.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the TMC demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?
The Trinamool Congress has alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar has acted in ways that amount to 'suppression of democracy', though the party's pamphlet does not detail specific rulings. The demand is part of a broader grievance list that also includes the reported detention of Mamata Banerjee in New Delhi and alleged oppression of opposition figures.
Will Mamata Banerjee lead the Kolkata rally on Tuesday?
Her participation has been described as tentative by party insiders. She was in New Delhi on Monday as part of separate protest activities, and leaders said she would lead the Kolkata march only if she returns by Monday night or Tuesday morning.
What is the route of the TMC protest march in Kolkata?
The march is scheduled to start from Rajabazar in North Kolkata and end at Park Circus in central Kolkata. Both locations are recognised as minority-dominated areas of the city.
Why has the BJP objected to the timing of the rally?
The BJP state leadership has argued that holding a large political rally just before Durga Puja — which begins later this week — is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the festive atmosphere. The party described it as an insensitive move at a culturally significant time for Bengal.
Will Kolkata Police allow the protest march to go ahead?
As of Monday, it remains unclear whether Kolkata Police will grant permission for the rally, with potential traffic disruption cited as a concern. What the TMC faction plans if permission is denied has not been publicly stated.
