KOLKATA:  Amit Shah, the president of the BJP, has been permitted by a court to hold a rally in the heart of Kolkata on Sunday after the party's request was repeatedly rejected by various city agencies.

The Calcutta High Court today asked the BJP to "comply with statutes" of the city's civic body and fire brigade and appointed two special officers to assist the party.

"It is a historical judgment...it paves the way for local administrations to treat all political parties equally and to not be influenced by their political masters," said the BJP's Siddharth Nath Singh.

The BJP had alleged a political motive after its request to hold the rally outside the Victoria House, a popular venue for political meetings, was rejected.

"There is no argument that a meeting cannot be held in front of Victoria House, which is a public place," the court observed.

The BJP had applied in July for permission to use the venue where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have addressed several rallies.

But five months later, just last week, the police rejected the request, saying the party needs permissions from the civic and fire departments. It also cited traffic problems.

The BJP pointed out that no such concern was expressed for the Chief Minister's address to her party workers, held every July at the same venue. Alleging discrimination, the party refused to consider an alternative location.

On Thursday, the civic corporation and the fire brigade also denied permission, raising objections that included the lack of a proper sketch of the stage the BJP plans to build.

The party today moved court for the third time in 10 days, with a leader calling it a possible "Guinness record."

Amit Shah, 50, who is credited with the BJP's recent landslide victories in key states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, has asked his party workers in Bengal to focus on a new recruitment drive. The BJP claims workers disenchanted with the Trinamool Congress and the Left are switching sides in large numbers.