Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) Kolkata Police have allowed the rebel faction of Trinamool Congress led by Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, to celebrate Martyrs’ Day on July 21.

Speaking to reporters after the party’s organisational meeting at the Boat Club in Kolkata on Saturday, Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata Banerjee said their first political goal for now is to celebrate Martyrs’ Day on July 21. He added that preparations have already started to organise a programme at the foot of the Gandhi statue on Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Esplanade on that occasion.

Martyrs’ Day on July 21 has been the main political event of the original Trinamool Congress faction led by Mamata Banerjee for more than three decades. From the time of opposition politics to her 15 years in power, Mamata Banerjee turned this programme into a platform to demonstrate political power by mobilising lakhs of people in the Esplanade area of central Kolkata.

This time, the situation is completely different. After the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari came to power, the administrative situation has also changed. In this context, Mamata Banerjee has already announced that, whether permission is granted or not, she will observe Martyrs’ Day on July 21 if necessary, even with a small number of workers and supporters. The Trinamool faction led by her is adamant about holding the event at the original venue in Esplanade, which is in front of Victoria House.

The police, however, did not grant permission to her Trinamool faction this year. On the contrary, an FIR has been filed against party leaders Kunal Ghosh, Dola Sen and others at the Hare Street police station for occupying the venue by blocking roads. Even after that, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to hold a rally.

On the other hand, after receiving permission, the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee has started preparations in full swing. Rebel Trinamool leaders claimed that this time, July 21 will be not only a commemoration of martyrs but also a big test of the organisation’s strength and public support. As a result, speculation and interest are increasing in the state’s political circles surrounding the programmes of the two Trinamool camps on the same day.

Rebel Trinamool said the necessary permission has been obtained from Kolkata Police. Accordingly, organisational preparations for the programme are underway. Ritabrata also said that the detailed programme of the meeting, the list of participating leaders and other organisational matters will be published in the next few days.

After the results of the Assembly elections were announced on May 4, the political equation of the state changed significantly. After the defeat of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in the elections, the BJP formed the government. After this, a section of Trinamool MLAs declared a rebellion and elected Ritabrata as the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. Later, the camp formed a new working committee of the party excluding Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.

In a special meeting held at a hotel in New Town on June 22, Howrah Madhya MLA Arup Roy was declared the chairperson of Trinamool Congress. At the same time, Aroop Biswas, Firhad Hakim, Rathin Ghosh, and Sabina Yasmin were made co-chairpersons; Ritabrata Banerjee, Javed Khan, and Sandipan Saha were made general secretaries; and Akhruzzaman Ansari was made treasurer.

–IANS

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