West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) led a day-long dharna in central Kolkata on Tuesday to protest alleged post-poll violence [1].
The demonstration marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP following the recent assembly elections. The protest highlights the volatility of the political climate in West Bengal as the state grapples with accusations of targeted political retribution.
Banerjee and other TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee, Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Derek O'Brien, and Dola Sen, gathered on Rani Rashmoni Avenue [2]. The group protested against attacks on TMC workers and leaders, which they attribute to the BJP government [3].
During the protest, Banerjee said that the TMC is being targeted unfairly after the polls [4]. She said, "I will not abandon TMC workers" [5].
The TMC alleges that the BJP-led central government is discriminating against West Bengal [6]. According to Banerjee, 12 TMC workers have been killed since the assembly polls [7].
Reports indicate that a scuffle broke out between protesters and police during the event [8]. The dharna served as a public platform for the TMC to voice grievances regarding the security of its members following the BJP's victory in the recent elections [9].
“"I will not abandon TMC workers."”
The protest underscores a deepening divide in West Bengal's political landscape, where electoral transitions are frequently accompanied by reports of violence. By leading a public dharna, Banerjee is attempting to consolidate her party's base and signal to the central government that the TMC will continue to resist the BJP's influence despite the recent election results.
