TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Says BJP Wanted To Kill Him

Abhishek Banerjee’s visit to Sonarpur to meet the family of alleged post-poll violence victim Sanju Karmakar turned into a major flashpoint, with stones, eggs and shoes thrown at the Trinamool Congress national general secretary. Television footage showed a chaotic scene, chants of "chor chor", and security personnel struggling to escort Abhishek Banerjee as political blame began flying between the TMC and the BJP.

Hours after the confrontation, Abhishek Banerjee was taken to Apollo Hospital in Kolkata for treatment, where former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived to see the injured leader. The Trinamool Congress later shared multiple videos of the Sonarpur incident, calling it an attempt on Abhishek Banerjee’s life and alleging that BJP-backed activists were behind the violence that disrupted the condolence visit.

Abhishek Banerjee Sonarpur visit and post-poll violence confrontation

Abhishek Banerjee had travelled to Sonarpur to meet the family of Trinamool Congress worker Sanju Karmakar, whom the party claims was killed in post-poll violence. As Abhishek Banerjee entered the locality, people gathered in large numbers, and the atmosphere changed quickly. Protesters shouted "chor chor", hurled stones and eggs, and blocked the road, forcing security staff and TMC workers to surround Abhishek Banerjee.

Visuals from the ground showed Abhishek Banerjee wearing a helmet while being pushed through the crowd, with projectiles continuing to fly. His shirt appeared torn and spectacles damaged as security personnel formed a tight ring. Even while being escorted away, Abhishek Banerjee faced sloganeering from rooftops and lanes, with residents waving broomsticks and bamboo sticks in open anger at the TMC leader.

Abhishek Banerjee Sonarpur attack allegations and 'they want to kill me’ claim

During the confrontation, Abhishek Banerjee directly accused BJP activists of planning the assault. "I will not move out from here till police and forces ensure security here. They are trying to break the house and they want to kill me," Abhishek Banerjee said, speaking from inside the tense Sonarpur neighbourhood while stones and abuses were still being reported by eyewitnesses.

Abhishek Banerjee claimed that the administration knew about the Sonarpur programme in advance. "We had mailed police and intimated them about our visit. We called the police but police did not pick up the call," Abhishek Banerjee said. Later, speaking to reporters, Abhishek Banerjee added that the alleged attack near Sanju Karmakar’s home had been recorded on multiple cameras present at the site.

Sharing a video of the incident, TMC MP Derek O'Brien wrote: "One of many terrifying videos. LETHAL ATTACK on @abhishekaitc by BJP supporters as he was visiting a family who lost their loved one in post-poll violence. Zero police protection. Dread to think what would have happened if he wasn't wearing that helmet. pic.twitter.com/0gPY5fNAdo— Derek O'Brien | ' (@derekobrienmp) May 30, 2026"

Abhishek Banerjee repeated the charge that the assault was politically driven. "They wanted to kill me. The whole incident has been captured on camera. We will definitely let the High Court know about this. We will also let the Governor know about this. I will definitely move court," Abhishek Banerjee said, asserting that the Sonarpur episode would be taken up legally.

Abhishek Banerjee Sonarpur chaos, BJP charge and local anger

Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the attackers were acting on behalf of the BJP. "It is all BJP-sponsored. Look what they have done. This is their example of democracy. It hasn't even been a month, and the police are nowhere to be seen. My head was somehow spared; fortunately, I was wearing a helmet. They have torn my clothes and broken my spectacles." Abhishek Banerjee also insisted on staying back with Sanju Karmakar’s parents.

According to Abhishek Banerjee, leaving the area without support for the bereaved family was not an option. "I will not abandon Sanju's elderly parents in this condition until additional forces arrive," Abhishek Banerjee said. Throughout the commotion, several women and men from Sonarpur shouted slogans against Abhishek Banerjee, reflecting years of anger over local issues that residents linked to corruption and poor civic facilities.

Many residents in Sonarpur used the opportunity to air grievances that went beyond the immediate attack on Abhishek Banerjee. One woman said, "Everything has been destroyed because of corruption. Look at the condition of the roads. We are suffering because of waterlogging." Another resident said nothing had changed for more than a decade, despite repeated assurances from those in power at different levels.

Abhishek Banerjee Sonarpur protest voices and political undercurrents

A resident standing among the protesters elaborated on the hardships faced in Sonarpur. "Nothing has happened in 15 years. Look at the roads. We don't have drinking water. My parents have grown old, my son is disabled and nobody has looked after us," the resident said. Questioning Abhishek Banerjee’s wealth, the resident added, "He has built 17 houses. How? I am a poor man. I sing on trains to earn a living. Now a new government has come and we have hope."

Another protester directly questioned Abhishek Banerjee’s presence outside Sanju Karmakar’s home. "Why has he come here? The person whose house he has come to visit is also a thief. It is like a thief visiting another thief," she alleged. Some locals also referred to earlier controversies involving the TMC leadership, demanding accountability, while political workers from both sides tried to control the charged atmosphere.

Abhishek Banerjee Sonarpur incident security response and TMC statement

As the situation worsened, personnel from Sonarpur Police Station and armed central forces arrived in strength. Security teams slowly cleared a path and escorted Abhishek Banerjee out of the area while crowds continued raising "chor chor" slogans. Despite the deployment, questions soon emerged about why such reinforcement was not present earlier, given prior information about Abhishek Banerjee’s Sonarpur visit.

The Trinamool Congress later issued a strong statement on social media, along with clips from Sonarpur. The party said Abhishek Banerjee had "refused to abandon the grieving family of Sanju Karmakar" despite being attacked. "Even after a vicious attack by BJP-backed miscreants, our National General Secretary chose not to turn back. Instead, he stood beside a family devastated by an unimaginable loss allegedly inflicted by BJP-backed hooligans," the TMC post said.

Abhishek Banerjee Sonarpur attack political fallout and BJP reaction

Following Abhishek Banerjee’s admission to Apollo Hospital, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reacted sharply to the events in Sonarpur. Posting on X, Mamata Banerjee wrote: "RULERS BECAME KILLERS - shame on you BJP!" The remark further raised the temperature between the TMC and the BJP, already at odds over allegations linked to post-poll violence and law-and-order lapses in West Bengal.

West Bengal BJP president and MP Samik Bhattacharya condemned the violence yet firmly denied that the BJP had any role in the Sonarpur attack on Abhishek Banerjee. "What has happened is not expected in a democracy. This kind of incident is not good for a healthy society," Samik Bhattacharya said, adding that rising public anger could have contributed to the chaotic scenes captured on camera.

Samik Bhattacharya insisted that the BJP did not organise the assault on Abhishek Banerjee. "The BJP is not involved in such activities. I cannot say why police were not there. That is a matter for the administration and the state government." Referring to earlier incidents, Samik Bhattacharya added, "What the TMC has done to our workers over the years cannot be described. We still remember what happened to our leaders in South 24 Parganas and elsewhere. Today, because we are restrained, that is why the TMC is still there."

The Sonarpur violence involving Abhishek Banerjee has quickly become one of the most discussed developments since the recent elections in West Bengal. With the TMC alleging an attempt to eliminate a senior leader, the BJP pointing to accumulated resentment against the ruling party, and investigators examining security lapses despite prior intimation, the episode is set to deepen the already sharp political polarisation in the state.