Rally pangs a day in advance

Kolkata: A day before the Trinamool's martyrs' day rally, most roads were choc-a-bloc with traffic, thanks to podiums set up on arterial roads. Also, several roads had already been marked "no entry". Moreover, Trinamool leaders were seen holding meeting on some thoroughfares, apparently as a "warm-up" for July 21.
"With blockades on some roads, there was tremendous pressure on major north-south and east-west corridors.Movement was slow on Central Avenue-J L Nehru Road-Asutosh Mukherjee Road and AJC Bose Road-APC Roy Road. Traffic was heavy on Park Street, Theatre Road, Sarat Bose Road as well," said a traffic officer.
The fact that hordes of Trinamool supporters had started arriving in the city did not help the scene. Such a diligent worker is Kamuruddin Ali from Mathabangha in Cooch Behar, for whom the rally is his own victory rally.
As a "reward" for his contribution to Trinamool's victory in the civic polls last year, the party president of Mathabhanga block has been given the nod to take along 50 workers to the Esplanade gathering. After he, along with his entourage, reached Sealdah on Wednesday, they headed straight to Binani guesthouse at Pathuriaghata Street, where rooms were booked for them. It's "special treatment" for Ali who defeated CPM councillor Arun Chowdhury, wresting the seat after 29 years. For Santiram Mahato from Siliguri, it's a family outing. "I took my family to the Mayapur Iskcon temple and we will visit Kalighat tomorrow.Of course, I will attend the rally in between," he said.
By Wednesday afternoon, when the "guests" were served a lunch of rice, dal, vegetable curries, chutney and papad, the five-storey Binani guesthouse was packed with Trinamool workers, with hundreds yet to arrive. The party has made arrangements to accommodate workers at Salt Lake stadium and guesthouses like Binani and Maharastra Niwas.
In fact, leaders were worried about the sea of supporters pouring in. "We expect at least 3 lakh people more than last year," said a leader. Councillors have set up diases on S N Banerjee Road, Lenin Sarani, Esplanade, Park Street and CR Avenue, where giant screens will be put up for those who won't be able to reach the venue.