West Bengal's political landscape witnessed another dramatic chapter on Martyrs' Day as Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning to party leaders and workers against joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), declaring that anyone leaving for the BJP would not be welcomed back into her faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The annual political observance assumed greater significance this year as it marked the first Martyrs' Day since the BJP formed the government in West Bengal, amid a deeply altered political landscape following the split in the Trinamool Congress.

Mamata Sends Strong Message to Party Workers

Addressing a large gathering, Mamata Banerjee urged party leaders to remain loyal during challenging political times. She warned that those switching allegiance to the BJP should not expect to return to her party in the future.

The remarks were seen as a direct attempt to prevent further defections amid heightened political competition in the state.

The rally witnessed a massive turnout of supporters despite restrictions imposed on attendance, with party workers gathering to reaffirm support for Mamata's leadership.

Split TMC Holds Separate Martyrs' Day Rallies

For the first time, both factions of the Trinamool Congress observed Martyrs' Day separately following the party's split.

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction organised its rally near Birla Planetarium in Kolkata's Nandan area, while the faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritobrato Banerjee held its programme on Mayo Road near the Gandhi statue.

Meanwhile, the Congress also organised its own Martyrs' Day programme at Shahid Minar, making the day one of the busiest political events in the state.

High Court Alters Traditional Venue

Unlike previous years, the traditional venue at Dorina Crossing in Esplanade was not used for the event.

Following directions from the Calcutta High Court, separate locations were allocated for the rival Trinamool factions to maintain law and order.

The court also imposed attendance limits, permitting a maximum of 2,500 participants at the Mamata Banerjee-led rally and 750 participants at the Ritobrato Banerjee faction's gathering.

Authorities deployed security personnel across central Kolkata to ensure peaceful conduct of all political programmes.

TMC Alleges Stage Vandalism

Ahead of the rally, the Mamata Banerjee faction alleged that the stage prepared for the event was vandalised late Sunday night.

According to senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee, around 25 to 30 unidentified motorcycle-borne individuals damaged parts of the stage. The party accused "BJP-backed goons" of carrying out the incident.

Kalyan Banerjee further alleged that despite the High Court's permission for the programme, police personnel were not present near the venue when the alleged vandalism occurred.

Mamata Inspects Venue

After receiving information about the alleged incident, Mamata Banerjee reportedly returned to the rally venue late Sunday night to inspect the stage preparations personally.

The incident added to the already tense political atmosphere surrounding this year's Martyrs' Day observance.

Political Significance

This year's Martyrs' Day carried exceptional political significance due to the changing equations in West Bengal.

The split within the Trinamool Congress, the BJP's rise to power in the state, and the emergence of new political alignments have reshaped Bengal's political landscape.

Political observers believe Mamata Banerjee's remarks against defectors signal an effort to consolidate her support base as the state heads into another phase of intense political competition.

With rival political camps mobilising supporters across Kolkata, Martyrs' Day once again served as a major show of political strength in West Bengal.

Expelled Trinamool Congress leader Riju Dutta claims more than 50 of the party's 80 MLAs are ready to declare themselves the "real" TMC, as Mamata Banerjee leads a protest in Kolkata against alleged post-poll attacks on party leaders.

Rebel Faction Sharpens Claims

The Trinamool Congress is facing its most serious internal challenge in years, with expelled party leader Riju Dutta claiming that over 50 of the party's 80 MLAs are prepared to break away and declare themselves the legitimate face of the All India Trinamool Congress. The rebel group is also said to be seeking the Leader of Opposition post and the party symbol — moves that could trigger a formal split and a prolonged legal battle over the party's identity.

West Bengal minister Tapas Roy added fuel to the fire on Tuesday, saying plainly: "The party will break, which it should." His remarks, made amid an ongoing session of the state legislature, were among the most candid acknowledgements yet from within TMC ranks that the crisis may be irreversible.

Mamata Takes to the Streets

Even as the split speculation mounted, TMC Chairperson and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was on the ground in Kolkata, leading a sit-in protest at Rani Rashmoni Avenue against alleged post-poll violence targeting party leaders. Before arriving at the protest site, she paid floral tributes to B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi on Red Road — a deliberate symbolic gesture, observers noted, ahead of what the party is framing as a democratic rights protest.

Several senior TMC figures were present at the site, including newly appointed Leader of Opposition Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Indranil Sen, and MP Kalyan Banerjee, who had earlier met Mamata at her Kalighat residence.

Abhishek Banerjee Among Those Allegedly Targeted

At the heart of the TMC's protest is the alleged assault on party National General Secretary and Mamata's nephew Abhishek Banerjee. According to party leaders, a crowd attacked Abhishek and threw eggs at him — an incident the TMC says is emblematic of a wider pattern of politically motivated violence against its representatives in the wake of the state assembly elections.

Kalyan Banerjee, a senior TMC MP, was also said to have been targeted. The party has demanded strict police action and accused the state's new administration of allowing — and in some cases facilitating — the attacks.

Mamata Hits Out at Police, EVMs

Addressing supporters at the protest, Mamata Banerjee levelled serious allegations against law enforcement. "Cops are threatening our leaders. The CP of Chandannagar called our leader and asked him to resign, otherwise he would be arrested," she said, claiming TMC leaders across the state were being picked up in what she described as false cases.

She also renewed her challenge to the election results, alleging that the BJP had rigged counting in 177 of 294 assembly seats. "The EVMs have been hacked. We are maintaining peace, but the government is promoting lawlessness," she said. West Bengal's new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, speaking separately on Tuesday, did not respond directly to the fraud allegations but issued statements on cultural nationalism, saying recitation of Vande Mataram had been made mandatory in all state schools.

Assembly Appointments, Speaker Standoff

The TMC moved to formalise its role in the new assembly on Tuesday, submitting appointments for its legislative team. Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay has been named Leader of Opposition, with Ashima Patra and Nayana Bandopadhyay as Deputy Leaders, and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip.

However, the process hit a bureaucratic snag almost immediately. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that when he and Ashima Patra went to the Speaker's office to submit the letter, the Speaker was absent. The office secretary reportedly told them the Speaker had verbally instructed that no letter be received. "What kind of custodian of democracy is the Speaker?" Ghosh said.

What Comes Next

The coming days are likely to be decisive. If the rebel MLAs formally declare their faction the "real" Trinamool and stake a claim to the party's symbol, the matter will move to the Election Commission — a process that can take months and has historically torn parties apart. For now, Mamata's counter-move appears to be keeping her core loyalists visible and vocal while the expulsion of rebel leaders signals she is not in a mood for negotiation.