The Kalighat unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Tuesday approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to hold a protest march against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur. The move came after police denied clearance for the rally scheduled on Wednesday.

The proposed march is expected to be led by Banerjee herself. Following the refusal, the Kalighat leadership urgently filed a petition before the High Court. The court has permitted the filing, and a hearing is likely to take place in the second half of the day.

According to sources, MP and advocate Kalyan Banerjee mentioned the matter before the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, alleging that the police had denied permission for a peaceful demonstration. After a brief hearing, the court allowed the petition to be formally filed, paving the way for further legal proceedings.

Political circles are now closely watching the outcome of the hearing, which will determine whether the rally can go ahead as planned.

Questions over purpose of march

While the protest is being positioned as a response to the Baruipur incident, the exact objective of the proposed march remains unclear. Political observers suggest that the Kalighat faction may be attempting to assert its presence amid recent controversies and signs of internal discord within the party.

The development follows Banerjee’s candlelight protest on Monday over the same incident. The march began from her Kalighat residence but faced resistance when central forces blocked her at the entrance of the lane, leading to a tense standoff. Despite the obstruction, Banerjee and her supporters proceeded towards Harish Chatterjee Street.

On her instructions, party leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen, MP Pratima Mondal, and former Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee visited Baruipur later that day to assess the situation on the ground.

Internal challenges add political significance

The situation unfolds against the backdrop of internal challenges within the TMC following recent elections. Reports of friction between party legislators and Members of Parliament have raised concerns about organisational cohesion.

Banerjee was also recently seen leading a protest against hawker evictions, although the turnout at that event was limited. Against this backdrop, Wednesday’s proposed march has assumed added political significance, with the High Court’s decision now keenly awaited.

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