In her first major political programme since the setback in the Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee took to the streets of Kolkata on Tuesday. However, the protest event at Dharmatala’s Y-Channel was marked by chaos, forcing the former Chief Minister to halt her speech midway.
Banerjee, after leaving her Kalighat residence, first proceeded to the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road, where she paid floral tribute. Holding a copy of the Constitution of India, she then led a march on foot to the Y-Channel, accompanied by party leaders including Madan Mitra, Kunal Ghosh, Kalyan Banerjee, and Dola Sen.
A temporary protest podium had been set up near the bus stand adjacent to the Y-Channel, where Banerjee addressed party workers and supporters. However, the event saw a noticeably thinner presence of senior party functionaries. In the aftermath of the Assembly election results, a large number of TMC MLAs and MPs were absent from the programme, highlighting apparent internal strains within the party.
Among those present on the stage were Chandrima Bhattacharya, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Mala Roy, Nayna Bandyopadhyay, Ashok Deb, Akhil Giri, Indranil Sen, Derek O’Brien, Krishna Chakraborty, and Firhad Hakim. Councillor Swapan Samaddar was also seen arriving with supporters, but the overall turnout of elected representatives remained limited.
Despite the disruptions, a sizeable number of party workers and supporters participated in the sit-in protest. Addressing them, Banerjee sought to boost morale and delivered a strong message against what she described as political intimidation.
“Our party’s MLAs, councillors, and candidates are being illegally intimidated. Trinamool workers are being prevented from stepping out of their homes and are living in fear. But we will not be intimidated. We will take to the streets and continue this fight. We will protect every word of the Constitution,” she said.
Banerjee also accused the BJP-led central government of orchestrating a “conspiracy” to weaken the TMC. Referring to administrative restrictions, she claimed that police had informed them late at night that prior permission would be required to hold events at the Y-Channel.
“This is not practical. If such a rule exists, it should have been communicated earlier. This is an attempt to suppress dissenting voices,” she said, asserting that she would continue to protest regardless of restrictions.
“Wherever I find space, I will sit down. You cannot stop me,” she added.
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