TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee was heckled with "chor, chor" and "Jai Shri Ram" chants at Kolkata airport while addressing the media.
The incident highlights the escalating tension between the Trinamool Congress and its critics amid allegations of internal party turmoil and job scams. Such public confrontations underscore the volatility of the political climate in West Bengal as opposition groups use high-visibility areas to target government officials.
The confrontation occurred at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata [1]. Protesters targeted Banerjee with slogans calling him a thief, while others chanted religious slogans associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [1]. The encounter led to a verbal clash between the lawmaker and the demonstrators, which was captured in a video that later went viral [2].
According to reports, the protesters expressed anger over alleged job scams and internal instability within the party [1]. The demonstrators accused both Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari of wrongdoing [1].
Amid the chaos, reports surfaced regarding shifts in parliamentary support. At least 20 MPs are reported to be supporting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) [2].
Banerjee's reaction to the heckling varied during the encounter, with some reports noting he lost his cool while others said he was smiling during the chaos [2]. The incident took place as Banerjee was attempting to speak with reporters at the terminal [1].
“TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee was heckled with "chor, chor" and "Jai Shri Ram" chants at Kolkata airport”
The incident reflects a deepening divide in West Bengal's political landscape, where accusations of corruption—specifically regarding job scams—are being used as primary tools for public mobilization. The mention of shifting MP loyalties toward the NDA suggests that the street-level protests may be mirroring broader instability or realignments within the legislative ranks.
