Questions over Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s standing within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) after her recent electoral defeat appeared less pronounced on Saturday,
as key Opposition leaders closed ranks in support of her nephew and senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee following an attack on him in South 24 Parganas.
The incident took place in Sonarpur, where Abhishek Banerjee had travelled to meet families affected by post-election violence. During the visit, he was allegedly assaulted by a mob. Mamata Banerjee, who lost power earlier this month after 15 years in office, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being behind the attack. The BJP rejected the allegation.
Despite ongoing tensions and disagreements within the INDIA bloc, several Opposition leaders used the episode to target the BJP, presenting a united front over the incident.
Opposition Targets BJP
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge 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,” while alleging “a deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent Opposition leader”.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed the incident a “heinous conspiracy” and accused the BJP of encouraging political violence.
“By getting a murderous attack carried out on senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, the anarchic BJP government has proved that it can do nothing except indulge in hateful and violent politics,” Yadav said in a post on X.
Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also condemned the attack, linking it to the political climate in the state.
“I strongly condemn the attack on Abhishek Banerjee ji. There is a deeply worrying breakdown of law and order in West Bengal at present. Wherever the BJP comes to power,” he said, alleging that the BJP can’t tolerate a strong opposition.
“High praise to Abhishek Banerjee ji for standing strong and supporting the grieving family during this tragedy,” he added.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore posted on X, “This is Congress. This is Rahul Gandhi. When an alliance partner faces a storm, we don’t step aside; we step forward. We stand with them.”
BJP Rejects Allegations
The BJP dismissed claims that it had any role in the incident, asserting that the protests reflected public anger against the Trinamool Congress over recent violence in the region.
Party leaders maintained that the confrontation was being wrongly portrayed as a politically orchestrated attack and accused the TMC of seeking political advantage from the episode.
“There is no BJP involvement in the egg-throwing, manhandling incident. People know how TMC has governed for the last 15 years in the state. The police and authorities should look over the families affected by post-poll violence. The TMC has no moral or political right to go over to them,” said Samik Bhattacharya, the chief of the ruling party’s Bengal unit.
The Trinamool Congress, however, maintained that the attack had been planned in advance.
Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev alleged that the assault was “premeditated and planned”.
“This is not people’s outrage, this is the fear of AITC’s support that may be silent now but still stands with us. This will not work,” Dev said, urging BJP leaders not to blame ordinary people of Bengal for the incident.
Details Of The Incident
The confrontation unfolded when Abhishek Banerjee visited Sonarpur to meet the family of a TMC worker who had recently died amid continuing political tensions in the area.
According to reports, a crowd assembled along the route of his convoy and attempted to block his movement. Videos circulating on social media showed Banerjee surrounded by protesters who allegedly hurled eggs, stones and shoes while shouting “chor chor” (thief).
His shirt was torn during the incident, and he was later seen wearing a helmet as security personnel escorted him away. Police subsequently intervened and dispersed the crowd.
Mamata Banerjee and the INDIA Bloc
Both cooperation and distance have often marked Mamata Banerjee’s ties with the INDIA alliance. Although she remained a constituent of the Opposition coalition, the Trinamool Congress fought both the Lok Sabha election and the recent Assembly election independently.
While the strategy yielded gains in the parliamentary election, it proved unsuccessful in the Assembly contest.
The BJP’s rise in West Bengal culminated in the formation of a government in 2026, ending TMC rule in one of the Opposition’s strongest bastions. Following that setback, Banerjee renewed engagement with the INDIA bloc partners and called for a meeting of the alliance.
