Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Sanat Dey was targeted with eggs and shouts of "Chor Chor" during an official visit to Naihati [1].
The incident highlights escalating tensions in the North 24 Parganas district, where political friction between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has manifested in public confrontations.
The attack occurred on May 21, 2026 [1], in Naihati. Protesters hurled eggs at Dey and chanted slogans calling him a thief, which forced him to abandon his visit and turn back [1]. Local reports indicate the protest was part of a broader wave of anti-TMC sentiment in the region [1].
Dey said the incident was not a spontaneous protest. "This is a premeditated plan by the BJP, I will file a police complaint," Dey said [1].
The confrontation comes amid a period of intense political volatility in West Bengal. The TMC has recently targeted the BJP over the use of bulldozers for demolitions and the eviction of hawkers. A TMC spokesperson said the party would launch protests across Kolkata and adjoining areas against the BJP's "bulldozer culture" [2].
Other party leaders have responded to the atmosphere of instability. Abhishek Banerjee said the party will not be intimidated by such attacks [1]. The clash in Naihati reflects a pattern of street-level aggression that has characterized the rivalry between the two dominant political forces in the state.
Security forces in North 24 Parganas remain on alert as both parties continue to mobilize supporters for various demonstrations. The TMC continues to frame its opposition as a fight against administrative overreach by the BJP, while opponents of the TMC use public gatherings to voice allegations of corruption [1, 2].
“"This is a premeditated plan by the BJP, I will file a police complaint."”
The attack on Sanat Dey is an indicator of the deepening polarization in West Bengal, where political disputes are increasingly shifting from legislative debate to physical confrontation. By linking the incident to 'bulldozer culture' and corruption allegations, both the TMC and BJP are utilizing high-visibility grievances to mobilize their bases ahead of further regional unrest.
