Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was heckled and pelted with eggs on Saturday evening while visiting Sonarpur to meet the family of a TMC worker who was allegedly a victim of post-poll violence.
The incident marked Banerjee’s first public appearance since the TMC’s defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.
While on his way to meet the family of Sanju Karmakar, a TMC worker who was allegedly murdered in post-poll violence, Banerjee himself came under attack. As he entered Sonarpur on a motorcycle, protesters allegedly attempted to physically assault him. Witnesses claimed that he was heckled, his shirt was tugged, and objects including bricks, shoes and eggs were hurled at him.
Staying true to his word, Shri @abhishekaitc REFUSED TO ABANDON the grieving family of Sanju Karmakar.
Even after a vicious attack by @BJP4Bengal-backed miscreants, our National General Secretary chose not to turn back. Instead, he stood beside a family devastated by an… pic.twitter.com/L11oo92AzQ
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 30, 2026
The motorcycle on which Banerjee was travelling was also allegedly pushed to the ground amid the chaos. Protesters were heard chanting “Chor, chor (thief)” slogans against the Diamond Harbour MP.
Banerjee’s security personnel were seen attempting to shield him from the crowd. Wearing a cricket helmet for protection, the TMC leader continued moving forward despite the protests. Eggs were also thrown at him, and several buttons on his shirt were torn off. Even as the situation escalated, Banerjee continued towards the residence of the victim’s family. No police personnel were immediately visible at the spot during the initial phase of the incident.
Before Banerjee’s arrival in Sonarpur, groups of women were seen standing at multiple locations carrying eggs. BJP supporters were also seen holding black flags and raising “go back” slogans. Amid the protests, Banerjee opted to travel on a motorcycle instead of a four-wheeler, bringing him into direct contact with the demonstrators.
From the Dhalai Bridge near Patuli to Kamrabad in Sonarpur, BJP supporters staged protests at several locations, chanting slogans against the TMC leader.
Speaking to the media during the visit, Banerjee alleged that the attack was politically motivated.
“This is BJP-sponsored. Look at the situation. We have come to meet victims of post-poll violence, but the police are nowhere to be seen despite repeated requests,” he said.
Escalating his criticism of the BJP government, Banerjee further alleged, “After Independence, no Chief Minister was ever seen accepting money, but a BJP Chief Minister has been seen taking money. If they want to kill me, let them kill me. I want my (dead) body to be recovered from here. I will not leave these parents alone. I will approach the High Court and the Governor. They are trying to break the door (of the house of the victim), and there is no police force here. I will not leave until security forces arrive. They threatened the family and told them not to allow me to come here. Why are they so scared?”
He added, “I will move both the High Court and the Supreme Court regarding this incident. In the last 15 years, such a thing has never happened. I do not expect security from this government. Overnight, bulldozers are deployed, but I do not expect protection. I will stand by this family. The way the young man was assaulted is shocking. He did not even tell his elderly family members what he had suffered. Around 40 to 50 people allegedly attacked him, and no action has been taken against them,” Banerjee said.
Meanwhile, several women protesters gathered outside the house carrying brooms and raised slogans against Banerjee. Some questioned the TMC leadership’s role during the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case. “They protected the culprits. Where were they when the entire country stood in solidarity with the RG Kar victim?” one of the protesters alleged.
As the protests intensified and demonstrators continued raising slogans, a large contingent of Central Armed Police Forces and local police personnel arrived at the scene. Security personnel subsequently escorted Banerjee out of the area.
The nearly one-kilometre stretch that Banerjee walked back to his vehicle was heavily guarded by police and central forces.
The doctor attending the Member of Parliament at the second hospital in his prescription wrote, “Patient came to the hospital and got checked. There is no serious physical sign of injury except bruises in the chest. Patient is walking and is fully conscious and oriented. Hence, patient does not require any admission.” However, Banerjee was prescribed some medicines.
The TMC later condemned the incident through a social media post.
“The true face of BJP Bengal’s politics stands exposed. The attack on our National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee today is yet another reminder of how rapidly law and order has deteriorated under this shameless regime. If a sitting Opposition MP can be targeted in broad daylight, what hope is there for ordinary citizens? Is this BJP’s idea of democracy? Is this the ‘good governance’ that Prime Minister Narendra Modi never stops boasting about?” the party said.
Sharing the TMC post, former CM Mamata Banerjee took to X and wrote, “RULERS BECAME KILLER— shame on you BJP”.
RULERS BECAME KILLERS- shame on you BJP https://t.co/DHNsnDAc9a
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 30, 2026
TMC MP Susmita Dev also reacted on social media, alleging that the incident was pre-planned.
“This is premeditated and planned. This is not people’s outrage; this is fear of the support that AITC continues to enjoy, even if it appears silent today. This will not work. Do not blame ordinary people of Bengal for the actions of BJP goons,” she wrote.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also reacted to the incident and took to X. “By orchestrating a murderous attack on Shri Abhishek Banerjee ji, a key leader of the Trinamool Congress in Bengal, the anarchic BJP government in Bengal has proven that the BJP is capable of nothing but hate-filled, negative, violent politics. Even in such a sensitive environment, the absence of police arrangements points to a major conspiracy. Utterly condemnable!,” he said.
बंगाल में तृणमूल कांग्रेस के महत्वपूर्ण नेता श्री अभिषेक बनर्जी जी के ऊपर जानलेवा हमला करवाकर बंगाल की अराजक भाजपा सरकार ने साबित कर दिया है कि भाजपा नफ़रत भरी नकारात्मक हिंसक राजनीति के सिवा और कुछ नहीं कर सकती है। इतने संवेदनशील वातावरण में भी पुलिस की व्यवस्था न होना एक बड़ी…
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 30, 2026
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the attack and said, “Strongly condemn the shocking attack on MP Shri Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, as he went to meet the families affected by post-poll violence in the state. The deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent Opposition leader speaks volumes about the BJP’s politics of vendetta and persecution. The Government of West Bengal and the Union Government must ensure security for all Opposition leaders and take immediate steps to prevent such attacks. Political differences can never justify any kind of violence.”
Rahul Gandhi also condemned the attack and wrote on X, “The attack on MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur is utterly reprehensible. An attack on a Member of Parliament is not merely an assault on one individual—it is an assault on the very people who elected him, and on the democracy that is our shared legacy. This is the ugly face of the BJP’s politics of revenge. Political differences can never justify violence. The central government and the West Bengal government—both must take immediate action against the perpetrators, and ensure that no public representative, regardless of their party, ever has to worry about their safety. Abhishek ji, my thoughts are with you and your family. Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Responding to the allegations, BJP state president and MP Shamik Bhattacharya condemned the incident while denying any role of his party.
“Such an act is unacceptable, and my party has no connection with this incident. Why police were not present, as alleged by him, I do not know. When Suvendu Adhikari was Leader of the Opposition, there were attempts to attack him in North Bengal. Despite the atrocities faced by BJP workers over the years, our workers remain restrained. If the situation had been reversed and TMC was still in power, many opposition leaders would not even have been able to reach the spot safely. Nevertheless, violence of any kind is unacceptable,” Bhattacharya said.
On Saturday, Banerjee also visited another family in Beleghata whose member was allegedly affected by post-poll violence.
Meanwhile, a four-member team from the CID went to Banerjee’s Harish Mukherjee Road residence, only to be informed that the Diamond Harbour MP was not there.
Afterwards, he said, “I reside in my Kalighat Road house. If they (the CID) want to give notice, they will have to come here.” CID officials who returned to the Kalighat Road house were told that the MP was busy and would not be able to meet them right away, prompting them to wait for a few hours.
The reason for the summons is as yet unclear. Addressing the media later, Banerjee said he had not seen the notice and will consult a legal expert.
The CID is currently investigating allegations of forged TMC MLAs’ signatures on a letter submitted to the Assembly Secretariat nominating Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition.
TMC MLAs Nayana Bandyopadhyay, Kunal Ghosh, Baharul Islam, and Chandranath Sinha have already been questioned by the CID in the matter. Samples of their signature and handwriting were also collected.