Mamata Banerjee announces sit-in protest on June 2 over post-poll violence, attacks on party leaders in West Bengal
Times of India | 31 May 2026
KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) will hold a sit-in protest on June 2 at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Esplanade under the leadership of party chairperson Mamata Banerjee in connection with alleged post-poll violence and attacks on TMC functionaries.
The announcement comes amid escalating political tensions in West Bengal following alleged attacks on senior TMC leaders, including party MP Abhishek Banerjee and Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee.
TMC workers on Sunday staged protests across parts of West Bengal over the alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur on May 30. The opposition party has described the incident as a planned attack, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected the allegations, claiming local residents were expressing their anger against the former ruling party's leadership.
A protesting worker said, "There is an imbalance in Bengal. Abhishek Banerjee was attacked badly. The homes of TMC leaders are also being looted."
Commenting on the alleged attack on Kalyan Banerjee, TMC leader Madan Mitra accused the BJP of orchestrating the incident.
He said, "A protest should be done across the country on this thing. This is the BJP's plan because they don't want any opposition against them."
The remarks came after Kalyan Banerjee alleged on Sunday that he was attacked near Chanditala Police Station in Hooghly district while on his way to submit a deputation regarding post-poll violence. Calling it an "attempt to murder", the TMC MP claimed he was assaulted by BJP workers outside the police station.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee later visited Kalyan Banerjee at his residence following the alleged attack.
Earlier, on Saturday, TMC National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly attacked in Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas while visiting families affected by post-poll violence.
According to the party, he was targeted with bricks, stones and eggs and sustained an injury near his eye.
In a post on X on Sunday, Abhishek Banerjee thanked Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for his support and alleged that the attack was intended to intimidate the Opposition.
"Thank you, @HemantSorenJMM Ji. Your support gives me the strength to continue the fight against such intimidation and violence. Yesterday's attack bore all the hallmarks of a State-sponsored and Centre-backed attempt to intimidate the opposition," the post read.
Meanwhile, five people arrested in connection with the attack on Abhishek Banerjee were produced before a court in Baruipur.
The accused have been identified as Akash Gayen, Kajal Das, Debashish Dutta, Nirmalya Sengupta and Tapan Maiti. Sonarpur Police arrested them in connection with the incident.
A case has been registered at Sonarpur Police Station. In a statement, West Bengal Police said, "Five people have been arrested in connection with TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's incident."