File photo of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi
The Congress in West Bengal claims Mamata Banerjee has denied Rahul Gandhi a venue to meet party workers ahead of next month's national election.
"Rahul Gandhi has not been allowed to address the workers meeting and chaupal in Kolkata. This is nothing, but a sheer political vendetta by the ruling regime against the Congress," said Adhir Chowdhury, chief of the West Bengal Congress unit.
Mr Chowdhury claims the Congress meet was planned for March 25 and the first choice of venue was the Netaji Indoor Stadium. But the Trinamool Congress government, which runs it, has said it is booked.
State minister Madan Mitra says Mr Chowdhury is lying about the date of the meeting. The Congress wanted the venue for April 3, he claims, and never informed that they wanted to switch to March 25. On that day, the stadium is indeed booked.
"In their letter, they categorically asked for 3rd of April. So it is their decision to hold the programme on the 3rd. It is just to create nuisance and to get negative publicity so that the programme is successful. We are hardly bothered. We do not believe in victimization. We are not vindictive. Let them do whatever they like," Mr Mitra said.
The state administration is not saying why Kolkata's Trinamool-run civic body has also denied Congress' request for an alternative venue, the Park Circus Maidan. The municipal corporation has apparently refused to allow the Congress meeting there citing exams.
The fight over a venue has set the stage for a political showdown, with Adhir Chowdhury saying he will make sure that Mr Gandhi's meeting takes place in Kolkata, "come what may".