Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday appeared before the Calcutta High Court in connection with a case linked to allegations of post-poll violence in the state, drawing attention
after she arrived dressed in a black lawyer’s gown.
The matter relates to complaints of attacks on political workers and damage to party offices following the recent Assembly elections, which ended the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule and brought the BJP to power in West Bengal.
The petition has been filed by Shirshanya Bandopadhyay, son of senior TMC leader and advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay, and is currently under judicial consideration. It alleges a spate of politically motivated attacks in the aftermath of the election results.
Taking to X, the TMC said Banerjee’s physical presence in court underlined her resolve to pursue what it described as a fight for truth, justice and constitutional values.
The party also slammed the BJP for fomenting unrest and said Banerjee continued to oppose what it termed “politics of hatred.” The BJP has rejected these claims.
The case comes at a volatile moment for the TMC, which is grappling with internal disquiet and growing criticism after its electoral defeat.
Since the results were announced on May 4, several districts have reported incidents of violence, including clashes between rival supporters, vandalism, bomb attacks and retaliatory assaults, with both parties trading blame.
Tensions escalated further after Chandranath Rath, a close aide of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on May 6. The killing has added to concerns over law and order in the state as investigations into the post-poll violence continue.
