TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Dola Sen booked the alleged traffic disruption during preparations for the Shahid Diwas rally

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh and party MP Dola Sen survey the venue at Dharmatala (Esplanade) as preparations begin for the party’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 in Kolkata on Sunday. | Photo credit: ANI

This flagship Shahid Diwas rally saw a tussle in the Trinamool Congress as both the Mamata Banerjee-led and Ritabrata Banerjee-led factions sought permission to organize the rally at Victoria House this year.

The Kolkata Police filed a First Information Report against Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh, Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen and senior leader advocate Baishwanar Chatterjee for allegedly blocking traffic in central Kolkata during an inspection at their Shahid Dibas rally venue on 21.

“A case was registered at Hare Street Police Station. The facts of the case are that on June 28, 2026, between 2:50 PM and 4:00 PM, the accused persons namely Kunal Ghosh (MLA), Dola Sen (MP RS), Advocate Baiswanar Chatterjee and others gathered outside Victoria House on Bentick Street, causing traffic obstruction in the said case on a daily basis,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Kunal Aggarwal.

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The FIR was filed under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). “The rally took place without any permission from the police. They reached the spot with decorators and a few other people to inspect and measure the area before the rally, causing major disruption to traffic. We will question the leaders soon,” said a police officer.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (June 29, 2026) said Trinamool leaders taking road measurements without police permission cannot be allowed. Commenting on the split in the Trinamool Congress and its rank and file, the party left it and Mr. Adhikari ventured to hold the annual Martyrs’ Day rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds, as it had done in 2011.

Both the Trinamool camps have raised objections to organizing the Shahid Diwas rally as both the Mamata Banerjee-led and the Ritabrata Banerjee-led factions of the party have sought permission to organize rallies outside Victoria House this year. Police have yet to give formal approval, officials said.

Published – 30 Jun 2026 12:05 PM IST