India, April 21 -- The state-level friction between the Congress and CM Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Kolkata for April 23 had to be cancelled.

His party alleged that at the behest of the TMC, the local administration, specifically the police, has not granted permission for the visit. According to the Congress, the party waited until 6pm on Tuesday, April 21; but as permission was not granted, it was no longer possible to make preparations for the event.

Rahul Gandhi remains keen to undertake a visit to Bengal; therefore, a fresh request for administrative permission will be submitted for either April 25 or 26, news agency ANI reported citing ...