TMC, Congress Prepare Rival Martyrs' Day Rallies in Kolkata

KOLKATA — The political landscape of West Bengal is set for a dramatic showdown as rival factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress prepare for separate rallies on Martyrs’ Day, July 21, 2026. This marks the first major public mobilisation of non-Left Opposition parties since the BJP assumed power in the state nearly two months ago.

Trinamool Divided: Mamata vs Ritabrata

The TMC, once a unified force under Mamata Banerjee, now finds itself split into two camps. Banerjee’s faction is hosting its rally near the Birla Planetarium, while the rebel group, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, has chosen Mayo Road as its venue. Both leaders visited their respective sites on the eve of the event, underscoring the high stakes involved.

Adding to the tension, both factions claim to represent the true spirit of Martyrs’ Day, a commemoration of the 13 protesters killed by police on July 21, 1993, during a march demanding mandatory voter IDs for elections. Mamata Banerjee, then a youth Congress leader, had led that march, cementing her political credentials.

Congress Joins the Fray

The Congress, seeking to reassert its relevance in the state, is also organising a rally within a three-kilometre radius of the TMC events. Senior leaders from all three groups have been working to mobilise large crowds, turning the day into a test of strength for West Bengal’s fractured Opposition.

BJP’s Shadow Looms

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP has added fuel to the fire by releasing a report accusing the previous TMC government of shielding those responsible for the 1993 violence. Adhikari’s criticism comes as the TMC factions trade barbs over who truly honours the martyrs. Kunal Ghosh, an MLA in Mamata Banerjee’s camp, accused rival events of indirectly supporting the BJP.

Legacy at Stake

For Mamata Banerjee, Martyrs’ Day has long been a platform to project her political dominance. In previous years, the event drew massive crowds to the Esplanade’s Victoria House, where she was the undisputed leader of the TMC. This year, however, she faces the dual challenge of a resurgent BJP and a splintered party. Banerjee has urged her supporters to stay loyal and attend her rally, warning them against police interference.

Families of Martyrs Divided

The rebel faction claims that families of the 1993 martyrs will be present on their stage, a move likely to deepen the rift within the TMC. Firhad Hakim, once a close ally of Mamata Banerjee and now aligned with Ritabrata Banerjee, declared, “All of us who could have been martyrs on that day will be here on this stage.”

As Kolkata braces for a day of competing rallies, the fractured Opposition’s inability to unite against the BJP underscores the challenges ahead for non-Left parties in West Bengal.

Source: The Hindu