Only 20 of 80 TMC MLAs Attend Mamata’s Meeting After Attack on Abhishek Banerjee

A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was allegedly attacked, a meeting of the party’s legislators at the residence of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee witnessed a poor turnout, with only 20 of the party’s 80 MLAs attending.

The low attendance sparked speculation about internal discontent within the party. However, the TMC dismissed such concerns, attributing the absence of most legislators to ongoing protests against alleged political violence and police action targeting party workers.

Speaking outside Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said several MLAs were engaged in organising demonstrations following Saturday’s attack on Abhishek Banerjee and the alleged assault on party MP Kalyan Banerjee the following day.

Ghosh said the legislative party meeting had been scheduled well in advance but circumstances on the ground had changed following the incidents. According to him, many legislators were busy coordinating protests, assisting party workers facing police action and monitoring developments in their respective constituencies.

He said those unable to attend had informed the party leadership and requested that the meeting be postponed. Accepting what it termed a genuine request, the TMC decided to defer the session, even though around 20 MLAs had already arrived for the scheduled 3 pm meeting.

The meeting will now be held at a later date, with revised details to be communicated to all legislators, Ghosh said. Party sources indicated that Mamata Banerjee held informal discussions with the MLAs who were present at Kalighat.

Announcing the party’s next course of action, Ghosh said TMC leaders and workers have been instructed to organise block-level rallies in rural areas and ward-level protests in urban centres on Monday. The demonstrations will focus on what the party describes as attacks on Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee and TMC workers in the aftermath of the elections.

The party has also planned a symbolic day-long sit-in protest on Tuesday at Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata’s Esplanade area. The programme will be led by Mamata Banerjee and will raise issues including alleged post-poll violence and the demolition of hawkers’ establishments through bulldozer drives.

Ghosh said the TMC’s next political programme would be announced from the protest venue on June 2.

The cancellation of the legislative party meeting and the announcement of a fresh round of demonstrations underline the TMC’s decision to shift its focus to street mobilisation following the recent attacks on its leaders and workers.