Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee were assaulted in West Bengal during a single weekend in April 2024 [1].

The incidents occur amid reports of widening cracks within the party following a heavy defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. The combination of physical violence against top leadership and internal defiance from lawmakers suggests a period of instability for the ruling party.

Abhishek Banerjee was assaulted on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Sonarpur, located in the South 24-Parganas district [1]. A day later, on Sunday, April 21, 2024, Kalyan Banerjee was attacked near the Chanditala police station in the Hooghly district [2]. In response to these events, the TMC announced a state-wide protest.

"The attack on our leaders is a clear attempt to intimidate the party and its workers," a TMC spokesperson said [3]. While the party blames the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for orchestrating the attacks, other analyses suggest the violence may reflect internal party dissent [3, 4].

Parallel to the violence, the party is facing challenges regarding leadership authority. Several TMC members of the legislative assembly did not attend a meeting called by party chief Mamata Banerjee. This absence has led party insiders to suggest that the grip of Mamata Banerjee on the organization is weakening [4].

Addressing the turmoil following the election loss, Mamata Banerjee said to party members, "Those who want to leave can go" [3]. The instability is further highlighted by the case of Riju Dutta, a TMC leader who received a six-year suspension [5].

An analysis by Moneycontrol noted that the party is facing unprecedented dissent and that cracks are widening after the losses in Bengal [4]. This internal friction persists as the party attempts to maintain a united front against external political rivals.

“"The attack on our leaders is a clear attempt to intimidate the party and its workers."”

The simultaneous occurrence of external attacks on high-ranking leaders and internal boycotts by MLAs indicates a crisis of authority within the TMC. If the party cannot reconcile the friction between the central leadership and its legislative members, it may face further defections or a fragmented strategy heading into future electoral cycles.