Mamata choses Dorina crossing for July 21 rally despite police allowing Brigade ground as venue

The political atmosphere in Kolkata is heating up ahead of the historic July 21 Martyrs' Day rally. While the Kolkata police appeared ready to grant permission for the massive gathering at the Brigade Parade Ground, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is hesitant to take up the offer. The party has raised concerns that the ongoing monsoon rains would turn the vast open grounds into a muddy swamp, making it incredibly difficult to manage lakhs of supporters and ensure a smooth event.

Traditionally, this mega rally is held outside Victoria House in Esplanade, a location currently restricted under Section 163 (prohibitory orders). Rejecting the alternative of the muddy Brigade Ground, the TMC leadership has sought a middle ground to keep the event in the heart of the city. The party has officially submitted a fresh application to the police headquarters at Lalbazar, seeking permission to hold the rally at the bustling Dorina Crossing instead.

Meanwhile, a parallel internal rift has added another layer of complexity to the event. While the mainstream faction led by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee fights for the central Esplanade zone, a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has already secured police permission to hold their program nearby at the Mahatma Gandhi statue. With the main TMC group now challenging the police's administrative restrictions in the Calcutta High Court, the final venue for this high-profile political rally hinges entirely on the upcoming court ruling and police evaluations.