Normal life was thrown out of gear owing to the huge rally called by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to commemorate the Martyrs’ Day on Tuesday.
Almost all major roads and arterial by-lanes were clogged with the TMC supporters, who started pouring in from Monday night. Many came in public buses, which were taken off the roads by the owners, and matador vans from far-flung districts of the city. By mid-day the traffic snarls spread across the city blocking most of the key roads. The venue -- in front of the headquarters of Kolkata Electric Supply Corporation in Esplanade -- was chock-a-block and many were seen waiting for their turn to enter the Chowringhee Square where the stage was set.
“But I could not, though I was standing in the next lane, S.N. Banerjee Road, since morning,” said a dejected Ratan Poddar who came from the adjoining North 24 Paraganas district. Inside the venue -- that stretched from Chowringhee Square to Jawaharlal Nehru Road in central Kolkata -- there was complete chaos. Supporters were nudging, shoving, pushing each other to have a glimpse of their Didi. Pandemonium ensued and that irked Didi.
“If you do not sit down, I will take action as I’m watching everything on CCTV,” said Ms Banerjee, within minutes of her arrival, snatching the microphone from State Law Minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya. The stage had large number of dignitaries from the field of sports, from the literary sphere and actors and directors of Bengal film industry. Writer Mahasweta Devi was also seen among the starlets and the veteran politicians who mentored Ms Banerjee in her college days.
“What Mamata has been able to do in the four years, no other Chief Minister in India has been able to do,” Magsaysay Award winner Mahasweta Devi said when requested by the Chief Minister to say a few words. The family members of those killed in July 21 police firing along with families from Singur, Nandigram and Netai were also seated on the dais. Conspicuous by his absence was former party general secretary Mukul Roy.
In fact this was the first time since the TMC’s inception that Mr Roy was not present at the annual event. In Mr Roy’s absence, newly-appointed general secretary Subrata Bakshi conducted the affairs of the party. Among those who gained prominence in the proceedings were Ms Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, popular MP Suvendu Adhikari and veterans like Subrata Mukherjee, Saugata Roy and Sudip Bandyopadhyay.
Meanwhile, the entire public transport system collapsed during the day. The Metro remained the only mode of public transport functioning but was largely overcrowded.
A mother with her ailing child was in tears when the child fell unconscious in the metro tunnel due to overcrowding. There were few buses on the road and passengers had to put up through an ordeal availing public transport at Howrah and Sealdah stations.
At the venue -- that stretched from Chowringhee Square to Jawaharlal Nehru Road -- there was complete chaos. Supporters were nudging, shoving, pushing each other to have a glimpse of their Didi
