A fresh political controversy erupted in West Bengal after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being directly involved in the attack on TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during his visit to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas.
The incident took place when Abhishek Banerjee visited the area to meet families allegedly affected by post-poll violence. During the visit, protesters gathered and a chaotic situation unfolded, with stones, bricks, eggs and slippers reportedly being hurled at the TMC leader. Banerjee later claimed that a brick struck near his eye and alleged that the attack was a deliberate attempt on his life.
Reacting strongly to the incident, Mahua Moitra took to social media and accused the BJP of spreading misinformation regarding the attack. In a sharply worded post, she claimed that a BJP worker had been caught on camera pelting stones at Banerjee. Moitra identified the individual as Sushmita Dutta and alleged that she was associated with senior BJP leaders. She further described the BJP as a “filthy junglee” party and accused it of engaging in what she called “competitive hooliganism.”
According to TMC leaders, the attack was politically motivated and organized by BJP supporters. They argued that the violence was not a spontaneous public reaction but a targeted assault on one of the party’s top leaders. Several TMC leaders, including Moitra, have demanded strict action against those responsible and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The BJP, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that the incident reflected growing public anger against the Trinamool Congress. Senior BJP leaders condemned the violence but also claimed that widespread dissatisfaction with the TMC government had contributed to the hostile public response. BJP leaders denied any organized role in the attack and accused the ruling party of attempting to politicize the episode.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Police have reportedly arrested several local residents in connection with the disturbance and are examining video footage from the scene. The incident has further intensified the political confrontation between the TMC and BJP, with both parties trading accusations as tensions continue to rise in the state following the recent Assembly election results.
