Mamata Banerjee Protests Alleged Attacks by BJP in Kolkata

Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), held a protest meeting in Kolkata on 2 June 2026, expressing her determination to combat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until they are defeated. This event follows her loss in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, where the BJP attained a significant victory.

During the protest, Banerjee highlighted that it was unprecedented for her to face demonstrations outside her residence post-election. She compared her experiences to those of former Chief Ministers Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, stating that they never encountered protesters at their homes after electoral losses. "The party of lumpens wants me to die of a heart attack. But I will not die till I defeat you," asserted the 71-year-old TMC leader.

Banerjee expressed solidarity with her party's members during challenging times, criticising the police for allegedly denying permission to hold the demonstration on Rani Rashmoni Road. Amidst speculation of further defections within the TMC, she posed a challenge to potential defectors, asserting that those elected under the party’s banner would not be able to create a new faction due to their fear of law enforcement. "Trinamool was formed from struggle, and there can be no new Trinamool," she declared.

Following the expulsion of two TMC Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) for alleged misconduct, including claiming that their signatures were forged, the party's strength has diminished. After the recent expulsions, the TMC's representation has fallen to 78 MLAs, while the BJP holds 208 out of 294 Assembly seats.

Banerjee reflected on recent violence against TMC members, including an attack on general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, labelling the eviction of hawkers and demolition of illegal structures as contrary to TMC's previous humanitarian policies.

She was joined at the protest by party leaders such as Kalyan Banerjee and former Minister Dola Sen, as well as MLA Kunal Ghosh, amidst a gathering of TMC supporters who voiced their backing for her leadership. Banerjee also directed her attention towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning the current state of governance in West Bengal under BJP leadership.

Expressing optimism for the future, she anticipated a time when the BJP would no longer govern at the national level, mentioning an upcoming meeting of anti-BJP parties in Delhi. She stated, "Wait a while and we will announce our country-wide course of action," referring to a scheduled meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc.

In a contrasting view, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari remarked on the turnout at the protest, suggesting a dwindling enthusiasm within the TMC. He claimed that the low attendance—three MPs and six MLAs—signalled a bleak situation for the party. Adhikari characterised the current condition of the TMC as resembling the earlier electoral defeats, specifically referencing a recent repoll in Falta, where the TMC performed poorly.