kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata, March 17 – Just a day after the announcement of the Assembly elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest march from College Square to Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala on Monday, voicing opposition to rising gas prices and the ongoing fuel crisis. The rally saw participation from several senior party leaders as well as workers who had gathered from different parts of Kolkata.

By noon, College Street and the surrounding areas were bustling with supporters. Ministers and party leaders including Shashi Panja, Bratya Basu, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Arup Biswas, MLA Debashis Kumar, and senior leader Kunal Ghosh arrived early, joining the march ahead of its official start. Following the procession, Chief Minister Banerjee is scheduled to address a public meeting at Dharmatala.

The rally comes just 48 hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a public meeting in Kolkata. During that visit, allegations emerged regarding an attack on Minister Shashi Panja’s residence by some BJP workers en route to the rally. While other Trinamool Congress leaders responded to the incident, Mamata Banerjee remained silent publicly. Her comments on the matter during Monday’s rally are expected to attract significant attention.

The demonstration underscores the party’s strategy to directly engage with citizens on pressing economic issues and fuel concerns ahead of the state elections, signaling a proactive approach by the Chief Minister to mobilize support at the grassroots level.