West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to stage a sit-in protest at Y Channel in Kolkata’s Dharmatala on Tuesday in protest against the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee and alleged attacks on senior leaders and MPs of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Party workers are also expected to participate in the demonstration.
The TMC said its leaders had been targeted in incidents of political violence in recent days and stated that the protest was being organised to register opposition through democratic means. The sit-in will be held at Y Channel in Dharmatala after the party changed the venue from Rani Rashmoni Avenue, where it said permission had not been granted.
The political controversy intensified following an alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee in the Sonarpur area of South 24 Parganas district. According to reports, some people protested during his convoy movement and programme, allegedly throwing eggs, shoes and other objects, while incidents of jostling were also reported.
Following the incident, the TMC described it as a politically motivated attack, while opposition parties rejected the allegation. Police have arrested several people in connection with the case and an investigation is underway.
According to reports, Abhishek Banerjee has indicated that he may pursue legal action in the matter and is preparing to raise the issue before judicial and parliamentary forums.
Reports of another alleged attack involving TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also emerged. During a protest in Hooghly district, reports said he sustained injuries, further intensifying the political atmosphere.
The TMC leadership said repeated incidents of this nature were a matter of concern for democratic politics and should be treated seriously.
Mamata Banerjee alleged that organised efforts were being made to weaken her party. She claimed that TMC workers were being targeted through political pressure, administrative action and an atmosphere of fear.
She also said protest was a democratic right and that the party would continue to raise its voice in support of its leaders and workers. According to the party, the sit-in programme would continue despite permission not being granted at the initially proposed venue.
The TMC has announced protest programmes not only in Kolkata but across West Bengal. Party workers have organised rallies, sit-ins and demonstrations in multiple districts.
The party said the objective of these programmes was to mobilise opinion against political violence and demand protection of democratic institutions. Opposition parties, however, alleged that the TMC was attempting to derive political benefit from the incidents.
Ahead of the protest, the party leadership convened a meeting of legislators. According to media reports, the expected number of legislators did not attend, triggering discussion in political circles.
TMC leaders said several legislators were unable to attend because they were occupied with organising protests and meetings with party workers in their respective constituencies.
Political observers said political polarisation in West Bengal had intensified after recent Assembly elections, with exchanges of allegations, protests and public demonstrations between political parties increasing. According to observers, political competition in the state is no longer confined to electoral platforms and has increasingly extended to public spaces and political gatherings.
The incidents involving Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders have renewed discussion around political violence. Political parties and social organisations said disagreement and protest are natural in a democracy, but violence in any form cannot be accepted. Experts said political differences should be resolved through democratic and constitutional means to maintain public confidence in democratic institutions.
