Mamata Banerjee, Opposition Leaders Condemn Attack on Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur

Kolkata, May 2026 : A political storm erupted in West Bengal on Saturday after Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee was heckled and allegedly assaulted during a visit to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district. The incident drew strong reactions from senior opposition leaders, including TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Mamata Banerjee sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the newly formed state government, holding them responsible for the attack on her nephew and senior party colleague. In a strongly worded social media post, the former Chief Minister accused the ruling dispensation of fostering a climate of violence.

“Rulers became killers — shame on you BJP,” Mamata Banerjee wrote while sharing a Trinamool Congress post and a video purportedly showing the attack on Abhishek Banerjee.

The TMC’s statement claimed that Banerjee had travelled to Sonarpur to meet the family of Sanju Karmakar, a party worker who was allegedly a victim of post-poll violence. According to the party, despite facing aggression from protesters, Banerjee chose to continue his visit and stand with the grieving family rather than retreat from the area.

The incident also sparked condemnation from national opposition leaders. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described the attack as shocking and unacceptable. In a social media statement, he said Abhishek Banerjee was targeted while attempting to meet families affected by post-election violence.

Kharge further alleged that the lack of adequate security arrangements for a prominent opposition leader reflected what he termed a politics of vendetta and persecution. He urged both the West Bengal government and the Union Government to ensure the safety of opposition leaders and take immediate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“Political differences can never justify violence,” Kharge stressed, calling for the protection of democratic rights and political freedoms.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also criticized the incident, describing it as a serious attack on democratic values. He alleged that the violence reflected a pattern of negative and confrontational politics and questioned the absence of sufficient police deployment despite the sensitive nature of the visit.

Yadav said the lack of visible security arrangements raised concerns and suggested that the matter deserved a thorough investigation.

The attack on Abhishek Banerjee has intensified the political confrontation between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal. With allegations and counter-allegations already surfacing, the incident is expected to remain a major political flashpoint in the state, as opposition parties demand accountability and stronger security measures for public representatives.