Mamata Banerjee’s Kolkata Sit-in Protest Escalates; Many New MLAs Missing

On Tuesday, June 2, a political flashpoint emerged in central Kolkata as Mamata Banerjee, the chief of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), initiated a day-long sit-in protest against alleged assaults targeting party leaders and workers following the BJP’s recent Assembly election win.

Banerjee reached the Esplanade Y-channel to commence the demonstration after the Kolkata Police rejected the party’s plea to conduct the event on the adjacent Rani Rashmoni Road, as reported by PTI.

VIDEO | TMC chief Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) at sit-in protest at Esplanade’s Y-channel, said, “TMC leaders are being threatened in Bengal by cops.”

(Full video available on PTI Videos – pic.twitter.com/gXodQB3gPp

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 2, 2026

Using a megaphone to address her supporters, Banerjee asserted that authorities had denied permission for a stage and sound equipment at the location.

Heated exchanges erupted between the demonstrators and police as the protest progressed.

As TMC supporters chanted slogans, tensions rose during Banerjee’s speech. At the venue, she accused the police in West Bengal of harassing her party leaders.

Accompanying Banerjee were senior TMC leaders such as Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, and Dola Sen. Notably, many of the party’s newly-elected MLAs were absent from the protest.

ALSO READ | TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee alleges BJP supporters attacked, injured him outside police station

The demonstration focused on alleged targeted violence against TMC leaders linked to post-poll unrest, along with various other issues raised by the party. This agitation comes in the wake of increasing political strife following altercations involving Abhishek Banerjee during a visit to a party worker’s home in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas.

ALSO READ | Majority of TMC MLAs will remain with Mamata: Sobhandeb amid split speculations

Just a day prior, Banerjee stated that the sit-in would proceed without regard for police consent, challenging authorities to arrest her if they so chose. She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of leveraging money and influence to incite defections from the TMC.

The former Chief Minister of West Bengal asserted that the exit of leaders chasing personal ambitions would ultimately fortify the party and assist in its renewal. She cautioned that should the TMC be barred from protesting in Kolkata, the movement might escalate to Delhi.