Abhishek Banerjee's birthday turns into BJP-TMC showdown in Bengal: What we know

NewsIndia NewsAbhishek Banerjee's birthday turns into BJP-TMC showdown in Bengal: What we know Abhishek Banerjee's birthday turns into BJP-TMC showdown in Bengal: What we know Edited by Vijaya Srivastava / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 08, 2026, 14:34 IST TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee addresses a press conference, in New Delhi on Thursday.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee also present. NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in a protest in Kolkata’s Kalighat. She accused the BJP of hooliganism and alleged a breakdown of law and order in the state.She said she had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over the incident.The protest followed an overnight confrontation outside Abhishek’s residence, where clashes reportedly broke out between TMC workers and BJP supporters around 2am.

Abhishek alleged that BJP workers attacked his residence after conducting reconnaissance of the premises for two days.He later claimed that the confrontation continued until 7am, accused police personnel of failing to stop the attackers and alleged that some officers were assaulted while trying to intervene.

Several people were reportedly injured, while police imposed prohibitory restrictions around the residence and detained some people.BJP rejected the allegations, blaming the confrontation on a birthday gathering organised on a public road.

The incident has since triggered a political war of words, with leaders from both sides trading accusations over the violence and the state’s law-and-order situation.Mamata joins protest, writes to Lok Sabha Speaker Mamata reached Abhishek’s Kalighat residence later on Saturday and joined the protest.

She accused the BJP of creating disturbances in the area and alleged that a group of people had attacked a Kali Puja celebration.She also raised concerns over the arrangements for traditional pujas ahead of Kali Puja and Diwali.

Mamata claimed that permissions for some long-standing puja celebrations had been revoked while a new puja was allowed to be organised on the main road.“Tomorrow is Kali Puja and Diwali. Last night, at 2:00 AM, an attack was carried out at Abhishek Banerjee’s house.

This is our locality, a route through which many processions of Goddess Kali pass. Why are you causing such a disturbance? You have revoked permissions for our traditional, long-standing pujas while allowing new ones to be held instead,” she said.She alleged that the new puja arrangement had blocked access to their own celebration and accused the authorities of high-handedness.

She also said she had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over what she described as a breakdown of law and order.What happened outside Abhishek’s residence The confrontation reportedly began around 2am on Saturday, when BJP supporters allegedly raised slogans calling Abhishek a “chor” (thief) outside his Kalighat residence.

TMC workers had gathered in the area. According to reports, the slogans were followed by counter-sloganeering, arguments and a clash between the two groups.The confrontation involved allegations of assault, stone-pelting and vandalism.

Abhishek, who came out of his residence during the night to meet injured party workers, alleged that the attackers used wooden rods fitted with nails and vandalised a local TMC office.Police and party accounts put the duration of the initial clashes between 2am and 3.30am.

Abhishek, however, later claimed that the confrontation continued until 7am.He alleged that four to five of his supporters sustained serious injuries. One of them, he said, required plastic surgery, while another suffered a fracture.

Police sources said several people from both sides were injured. A separate report put the number of injured at eight, including three who were seriously hurt.Abhishek alleges two-day surveillance, attack plot The incident came hours after Abhishek raised allegations of surveillance outside his office and residence.

On Friday, he claimed that unidentified individuals had been conducting reconnaissance of the premises for two consecutive days.He said the individuals claimed to be police personnel when confronted. Abhishek questioned why the state police were allegedly keeping watch on an elected MP’s residence and demanded an inquiry into who had authorised the surveillance and for what purpose.He tagged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Kolkata Police, West Bengal Police and the Union Home Ministry in his post, seeking an investigation to establish the identities of those involved.Hours later, he alleged that his residence had been attacked by BJP workers.

Sharing a video purportedly showing the incident, he wrote on X: “After two days of continuous recce, this is how BJP hooligans attacked my house at 2 am today. Watch the footage and see for yourself. If this is what can happen to an elected Member of Parliament, imagine the plight of the common man in WB.”PTI said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.Abhishek described the incident as the seventh attempt on his life in six months.

He also accused the police and the judiciary of failing to act against those allegedly targeting him.Abhishek accuses police of inaction Escalating his criticism after the confrontation, Abhishek alleged that police personnel present at the spot failed to prevent the violence.

He claimed that some officers remained silent spectators, while others who tried to intervene were assaulted.“The attack continued till 7 am. Although the police were there, some of them acted as silent spectators, and others who tried to stop the BJP goons were beaten up by them,” he said.“The police who can’t protect themselves cannot protect the common people anyway,” he added.Abhishek also shared a video that he claimed showed a BJP worker slapping a plainclothes police officer.

The TMC accused the BJP workers of assaulting police personnel and questioned why those involved had not been arrested.He said...