“Bengal is not a Bulldozer state…”: Mamata Banerjee Appears in Calcutta HC Over Post-Poll Violence PILs; Alleges Police Inaction

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday personally appeared before the Calcutta High Court in connection with a petition alleging widespread post-poll violence across the state following the Assembly election results.

Representing the All India Trinamool Congress, Banerjee urged the court to intervene urgently and accused the police administration of failing to protect party workers and ordinary citizens amid continuing unrest.

Appearing before a bench led by Chief Justice HC Sujoy Paul, Mamata Banerjee made an emotional appeal to the court, saying the people of Bengal needed immediate protection. “My humble submission is to please protect the people of Bengal. This is not a bulldozer state,” Mamata Banerjee told the court.

The Trinamool Congress chief alleged that violence, intimidation and attacks on party offices had escalated in several parts of the state since the BJP’s victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections. “We want immediate protection for the people. In front of police they are capturing and looting houses and offices. I have already given pictures,” she said during the hearing.

The former Bengal Chief Minister also accused the police of refusing to register complaints and claimed that vulnerable families, including children, were facing threats. “Out of ten dead, six are Hindus. Please tell police to behave properly. They are not allowing FIRs to be lodged. In my family, 12-year-old girls are being threatened with rape,” she told the bench.

Raising concerns about the broader law-and-order situation, the former Chief Minister alleged that violence was now affecting daily life and livelihoods in different districts. “The matter is increasing every day. Even fish markets are being broken. We don’t have any problem with who wants to eat what,” she said.

Mamata Banerjee also acknowledged her appearance before the High Court as a lawyer, recalling her legal background while addressing the bench. “My regard to all the judges because this is my first time appearing in HC. As a lawyer I’m fighting this case,” she said.

The petition before the court was filed by advocate Sirsanya Banerjee, son of senior TMC leader and advocate Kalyan Banerjee. The plea sought judicial intervention into alleged incidents of post-poll violence, attacks on party offices and displacement of workers across several districts of West Bengal.

Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, who was also present during the proceedings, told the court that the scale of violence after the 2026 elections was worse than the unrest witnessed after the 2021 Assembly polls. “Many TMC party offices were burnt in the post-poll violence,” he submitted. “Take the 2021 post-poll violence case, the Chief Justice constituted a five-judge bench. The incidents today are more than what happened at that time,” Kalyan Banerjee argued.

According to the petition, incidents of arson, vandalism and attacks targeting Trinamool workers were reported from multiple locations, including Kolkata, Howrah and several district towns after the declaration of election results. The plea has sought protection for affected party workers and a court-monitored investigation into the alleged incidents.

The BJP and the TMC have continued to trade allegations over the violence that erupted after the elections, with both sides accusing each other of attacks and intimidation. TMC leaders have alleged that several party workers were killed following the results and have demanded judicial oversight into the investigation process.

Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh praised Banerjee’s appearance before the court and said she was standing with party workers during a difficult political moment. “Mamata Banerjee is a leader who stays with the people and workers. Today, she is in the role of an advocate, fighting for the people,” Ghosh said. The BJP, however, dismissed the development politically. BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh said Banerjee had every right to appear before the court but questioned her role after the electoral defeat. “She can go. She has gone there because it is her right. What work does she have now?” Ghosh remarked.

The BJP secured a historic victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, winning 207 seats and ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state. The TMC finished with 80 seats.