Bangla Press Desk: After Delhi, the Trinamool Congress is set to take to the streets of Kolkata to protest against the central government and the Election Commission. The party has called for a protest march from Rajabazar to Park Circus at 2 PM on Tuesday, coinciding with the third day of *Devipaksha*.
A party leader indicated that Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee might participate in the event. However, neither permission for the march nor Mamata's attendance has been finalized yet.
Campaign leaflets released by the Trinamool Congress highlight protests against the central government's alleged stifling of democracy, demand the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and condemn the detention of opposition leaders in Delhi. The party claims the program aims to safeguard the political rights of the opposition and protect the democratic space.
Opposition protests against the Election Commission have intensified recently, following demonstrations in Delhi. Activists demanded the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation, alleging irregularities in the special intensive revision process of the voter list. However, the veracity of these allegations against the Election Commission has not been independently established.
Mamata Banerjee had previously expressed support for that movement, stating she stood with the younger generation and students. Trinamool's protest against the central government gained further momentum following the detention of opposition leaders in Delhi.
However, uncertainty remains regarding Mamata's presence at Tuesday's event in Kolkata. It depends on her return schedule from Delhi and her subsequent political engagements.
Former Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Subhashis Chakraborty stated that they do not yet know if the police will grant permission for the march. Nevertheless, he asserted that the protest march would take place and the party leader would participate.
On the other hand, North Kolkata District BJP President Tamoghna Ghosh dismissed the significance of the Trinamool program. He remarked that Trinamool has become irrelevant and that the general public shows no interest in the party's activities.
Crowds are swelling in various parts of Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja. A march through key areas like Rajabazar, CIT Road, and Park Circus is likely to disrupt traffic. Questions also remain regarding how traffic will be managed should the police grant permission for the event. Following the opposition's agitation in Delhi regarding the transparency of the electoral system, this event in Kolkata is significant for the Trinamool's political stance as well. Political circles are now keenly watching the size of the rally, whether Mamata Banerjee joins it, and what decision the police take.
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