A major political confrontation has erupted in West Bengal following allegations of an attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's residence in Kolkata's Kalighat area. The incident, which reportedly took place around 2 am on Saturday, has triggered a fierce exchange of accusations between the TMC and the BJP, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joining a protest alongside her nephew.
The controversy began on Friday when Abhishek Banerjee alleged that unidentified individuals had been conducting surveillance of his office and residence for two days. He claimed that when confronted, the individuals identified themselves as police personnel. Demanding an investigation, he tagged the Lok Sabha Speaker, Kolkata Police and the Union Home Ministry in his social media post.
Hours later, Abhishek alleged that his residence had been attacked by BJP supporters at around 2 am, despite police personnel being present in the area. He also claimed that it was the seventh attempt on his life in six months.
According to reports, clashes broke out between TMC workers gathered for his 39th birthday celebrations and BJP supporters between 2 am and 3:30 am. At least eight people were reportedly injured, three of them seriously. Police sealed off the area and detained several people.
Abhishek subsequently alleged that the incident continued until 7 am and accused sections of the police of remaining silent spectators. He also shared a video which he claimed showed a BJP supporter slapping a police officer in plain clothes.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached Kalighat later that morning and joined a protest. She accused the BJP of hooliganism and alleged that a group of people had also disrupted a Kali Puja celebration in the locality. She questioned the timing of the incident, particularly with Kali Puja and Diwali approaching.
Several TMC leaders, including MPs Sougata Roy and Kirti Azad, condemned the alleged attack and accused BJP supporters of deliberately targeting Abhishek's residence. TMC leaders also questioned the police response and demanded accountability.
The BJP, however, rejected the allegations. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar argued that birthday celebrations should not have been organised on a public road, claiming that blocking the footpath could naturally lead to confrontation. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also dismissed the allegations as an attempt to mislead people.
The opposition further claimed that local residents were upset because the celebrations allegedly obstructed routes used for transporting Kali Puja idols. The BJP maintained that the dispute was connected to the use of public space rather than a planned political attack.
The controversy also drew reactions from outside the two parties. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said nobody should be deprived of the right to celebrate a birthday, while other opposition leaders criticised the deteriorating political atmosphere in Bengal. RJD MP Sudhakar Singh even demanded President's Rule in the state.
With allegations of political violence, questions over police conduct and competing versions of the incident, the confrontation has added another flashpoint to West Bengal's already heated political atmosphere.
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