Clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters outside the Kolkata residence of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, turning his birthday celebrations into a confrontation. Several people were reportedly injured in the incident. Banerjee accused BJP workers of orchestrating an attack and alleged police inaction, while the BJP rejected the allegations, describing the incident as political drama.
Supporters had been gathering outside Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat since Friday night to celebrate his birthday. Some party workers were putting up banners and posters when a group of people arrived and began raising slogans of “chor-chor” (thief).
The situation quickly escalated into an argument between the two groups, eventually leading to a physical confrontation. TMC workers alleged that BJP supporters tore down their posters and attacked them with bricks and stones when they objected. There were also allegations that some individuals used iron rods and hockey sticks during the confrontation.
Police personnel reached the spot after receiving information about the disturbance. As tensions escalated, officers separated the two groups and barricaded the road to prevent further clashes.
Abhishek Banerjee also came out of his residence and reportedly had a heated exchange with police officers. He subsequently staged a sit-in with supporters for some time.
Speaking to the media, Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the incident was not spontaneous and that some individuals had arrived carrying weapons with the intention of carrying out violence.
He said one of his associates, Tapas, sustained a serious injury near his thumb. Tapas was taken to hospital, where doctors reportedly indicated that plastic surgery might be required. Banerjee also claimed that another party worker had suffered a fracture to the bone below his eye.
The TMC MP subsequently shared a video related to the incident on social media. He accused the police of failing to act in time to stop the alleged attackers despite their presence at the scene. However, the allegations concerning the weapons and the planned attack have not been independently verified.
Abhishek Banerjee claimed that this was the seventh attempt to take his life in the past six months.
Referring to an earlier incident in Sonarpur, he alleged that armed individuals had attempted to target him on June 19 while he was returning from Delhi. According to Banerjee, party workers had apprehended some suspicious individuals at the time, but no action was taken despite a complaint being filed.
The TMC MP also questioned the roles of the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court, stating that the situation surrounding the security of an elected Member of Parliament was a serious matter.
The BJP rejected Abhishek Banerjee’s allegations. Dilip Ghosh, a minister in the West Bengal government, described the incident as political drama.
Ghosh said he had never seen a political leader celebrate a birthday in such a manner on a footpath. He argued that objections to noise and disturbances late at night were natural and that portraying the incident as an attempt on someone's life was incorrect.
The BJP's version of events was that some of its workers were returning after purchasing Kali idols from Kumartuli when TMC supporters allegedly initiated a confrontation with them.
Both parties have blamed each other for the incident.
A day before the confrontation, on November 6, Abhishek Banerjee had raised concerns about suspicious activities around his residence and office.
He alleged that unidentified individuals riding motorcycles had been monitoring his home and office for two days. When questioned, they reportedly identified themselves as police personnel.
The TMC MP also made the motorcycle's registration number public and questioned whose instructions the individuals were following while allegedly keeping his residence and office under surveillance.
