Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal and leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led a massive dharna in Kolkata on June 2, 2024 [1].

The protest highlights the deepening friction between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following recent elections. By mobilizing supporters in the streets, Banerjee is signaling that her administration will not overlook alleged attacks on its political cadre.

The sit-in took place in central Kolkata on Rani Rashmoni Avenue [2]. Banerjee was surrounded by TMC supporters during the event, which served as a platform to denounce alleged post-poll violence targeting party leaders and workers [2]. Among those allegedly targeted was her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee [2].

Beyond the political violence, the dharna addressed other local grievances. Banerjee used the gathering to oppose a railway hawker eviction drive, connecting the struggle of street vendors to the broader political fight [2].

During the protest, Banerjee emphasized the resolve of her party in the face of opposition. "We will fight or die," Banerjee said [1].

The event comes amid rising tensions between the BJP and TMC, as both parties trade accusations of intimidation and aggression in the wake of the polls [2]. The scale of the dharna underscores the TMC's strategy to maintain a visible and aggressive presence in the state's capital to deter further attacks on its members [2].

“"We will fight or die."”

This mobilization serves as a strategic display of strength by the Trinamool Congress to consolidate its base and project resilience against the BJP. By linking political violence with socio-economic issues like hawker evictions, Banerjee is attempting to frame the TMC as the sole protector of both party loyalists and the marginalized working class in West Bengal.