West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest march in Kolkata on Wednesday witnessed dramatic scenes after she slapped a member of her own party while attempting to disperse a crowd gathered outside her residence following the rally.

The protest march was organised against the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur. The rally was held after the Calcutta High Court allowed it, despite the Kolkata Police initially denying permission.

Rally witnesses repeated clashes

According to reports, the procession faced repeated disruptions as Trinamool Congress and BJP workers allegedly engaged in pushing and shoving along the rally route. Security personnel intervened to control the situation and reportedly carried out a baton charge to disperse the crowd.

BJP supporters also allegedly attempted to stop the march by forming a human chain and raised slogans of “chor, chor” (thief) during the protest. Some Trinamool workers were also reportedly targeted with eggs during the rally.

Slap incident caught attention

The most talked-about moment came after the rally concluded near Mamata Banerjee’s residence.

A large crowd had gathered outside the house, prompting the Chief Minister to step forward to clear the area. During the commotion, she slapped a party worker and pushed away several others while trying to restore order. Videos of the incident quickly circulated on social media.

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of planned disruption

Following the rally, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of deliberately attempting to disrupt the protest despite the court granting permission for the event.

She alleged that women workers from her party were assaulted and several supporters suffered injuries during the clashes. Banerjee also claimed that BJP supporters organised a motorcycle rally near her residence, played loud music throughout the protest route and snatched microphones that had been permitted for use during the march.

The Chief Minister further alleged that the Kolkata Police remained passive during the disturbances and accused them of behaving like BJP workers.

BJP rejects allegations

The BJP dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s accusations.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the party had not prevented Banerjee from holding the march. However, he criticised the Trinamool Congress, alleging that it had failed to change West Bengal’s political culture despite being in power for years.

Court had modified rally route

The Kolkata Police had initially refused permission for the protest march. However, the Calcutta High Court later permitted the rally while modifying its proposed route to minimise inconvenience to the public.

The protest was organised in response to the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur. The main accused, Prabhas Mondal, was later killed in a police encounter, while four people have been arrested in connection with the case.

The Congress is preparing to challenge the rejection of senior leader Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, shifting the dispute from the political arena to the legal forum.

Weeks after her nomination was rejected ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections, the former Member of Parliament asserted that the decision was not the result of any lapse by Congress leaders, legal experts or those involved in preparing the nomination papers. Instead, she claimed the rejection was based on an incorrect legal interpretation.

Congress to file election petition

Natarajan said the party would file an election petition within the prescribed time and contest the entire process before the High Court. She also alleged that a deliberate narrative was created to portray the rejection as a consequence of negligence within the Congress, thereby diverting attention from the Election Commission’s role.

According to her, the Returning Officer rejected her nomination citing non-disclosure of information related to a pending case. However, she argued that Form-26, which candidates are required to submit along with their nomination papers, does not contain any specific provision requiring disclosure of such information.

Natarajan said she has contested multiple elections in the past and maintained that experienced legal experts within the Congress have handled nomination papers for years, making such an oversight highly unlikely.

Questions raised over Election Commission’s approach

The Congress leader also questioned the Election Commission’s handling of the matter, alleging that it failed to apply uniform standards in similar cases.

She referred to the case of Rajya Sabha candidate Parimal Nathwani in Jharkhand, claiming he was given 24 hours to rectify issues in his nomination papers, whereas she was not provided a similar opportunity. According to Natarajan, the differing treatment raises concerns about consistency in the poll body’s decision-making process.

Congress sources said the party’s legal cell is preparing the election petition under the guidance of senior lawyers. The dispute had earlier reached the Election Commission and subsequently the Supreme Court, but the party will now pursue the legal remedy available after the election process through the High Court.

The Congress has also alleged that the Election Commission did not act impartially during the proceedings. Party leaders claimed senior Congress representatives and lawyers reached the poll body on time to present their arguments, but the proceedings were delayed. They further alleged that the Election Commission had the authority to overturn the Returning Officer’s decision but chose not to intervene.

BJP rejects Congress allegations

The Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed the Congress’ allegations, attributing the controversy to internal issues within the opposition party.

BJP state spokesperson Ajay Yadav said the rejection of Natarajan’s nomination was the result of internal infighting in the Congress. He also claimed that the senior leader had been sidelined within her party and suggested that the Congress should introspect instead of blaming the Election Commission.

Natarajan, however, rejected claims that the Congress was responsible for any lapse leading to the rejection of her nomination.

The Congress leadership is likely to decide the name of a new Punjab Pradesh Congress Comittee (PPCC) president in light of the growing factional differences emerging within the party state unit.

The decision by party president Mallikarjun Kharge on choosing the head of the state unit is likely to be finalized after he takes note of other senior leaders’ opinions on the matter, as differences over the continuation of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as PPCC president has led to former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi pitching his hat in the ring.

The leadership crisis has reflected the diverging interests of opposing factions in the Punjab Congress. Channi has the backing of several party leaders including Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Darshan Singh Brar, and Nazar Singh Manshahia, among other supporters of Channi, while another faction is supporting incumbent chief Warring.

The Congress needs to stem the crisis soon since the state is headed for elections next year as the term of the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government winds down. Many in the party have said that having a widely accepted state leader can strengthen the organizational structure.

The delay in decision-making has caused speculation with some senior leaders meeting BJP heavyweights in Delhi. Though these leaders have dismissed any rumours of switching sides, the strain among the factions is telling on party unity. But given the way several Rajya Sabha MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party switched to the BJP, nothing can be ruled out as election fever picks up.