• Source:JND

With the Trinamool Congress (TMC) grappling with an internal leadership crisis and growing factional tensions, several party leaders have also recently faced public hostility in the form of attacks. In a fresh incident, a TMC youth leader, Soumitra Banerjee, was allegedly targeted with eggs shortly after the similar attack on Abhishek Banerjee.

Soumitra was being escorted to court by West Bengal Police when the attack occurred, following his arrest based on a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Keshari, who accused him of assaulting BJP workers.

Visuals from the scene show a group of people appearing visibly agitated as they hurled multiple eggs at him the moment he stepped out of the police vehicle. The situation escalated until police personnel intervened and dispersed the crowd. In an attempt to protect himself, Soumitra bent his head, shielded himself with his hands, and quickly entered the police van.

Interestingly, this is not the first case, as egg-throwing incidents targeting TMC leaders have been reported multiple times in recent days, coinciding with increased political tensions in West Bengal following the party’s electoral setback against the BJP.

ALSO READ: VIDEO: Kunal Ghosh Targeted With Eggs Outside Mamata Banerjee's Residence Amid Spate Of Attacks On TMC Leaders

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh attacked with eggs

Just a day earlier, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh was similarly attacked with eggs outside party chief Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence in south Kolkata soon after he stepped out. He later lodged a formal complaint at Kalighat Police Station, demanding strict action against those involved.

On Tuesday, Kolkata Police arrested two individuals in connection with the case. Ghosh identified them as Chandan Singh and Ravi Koyal, stating that police had confirmed their arrest to him. “The concerning thing is that the police might grant bail today under a minor charge. I've told the station that won't fly,” Ghosh wrote on X.

He further added, “The CID's search at Mamata Banerjee's house -where that miscreant went as a witness-is now under investigation for allegations of an attack right in front of her house.”

ALSO READ: TMC's Sabyasachi Dutta Pelted With Eggs, Tomatoes As Protesters Shout 'Thief' After Arrest In Extortion Case

Eggs thrown at Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, a key figure amid the party’s ongoing crisis, was also allegedly attacked on May 30 in Sonarpur while visiting families affected by alleged post-poll violence. He sustained minor injuries in the incident. Videos from the scene showed a group of people manhandling the TMC leader amid loud sloganeering.

He was also pushed and heckled as the crowd surged forward, shouting "Chor, chor”.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi came out in Abhishek Banerjee’s support, calling the attack “utterly reprehensible”.

Abhishek Banerjee described the incident as “political violence and state-sponsored terrorism” and thanked Rahul Gandhi for standing by him.

These developments come at a time when the TMC is facing a broader internal crisis and struggling to maintain its cohesion and political identity. Party supremo Mamata Banerjee and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee are dealing with challenges on multiple fronts, with reports of MLAs and MPs breaking ranks to form separate factions. Around 20 dissident MPs in the Lok Sabha are reportedly set to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party and extend support to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).


Also In News