Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya on Saturday, 10 October 2026, alleged that the ongoing agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) — demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar — was anti-national in character and backed by hostile forces operating covertly. The remarks came even as West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee alleged she was detained by Delhi Police while attempting to join the Jantar Mantar demonstration in New Delhi.

Bhattacharya's Allegations

Bhattacharya, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, told reporters: 'Every citizen in a democratic country has the right to protest. However, irrelevant forces are trying to become relevant using the present movement. Today's protest is out of frustration. The government is keeping an eye on the issue. Anti-national forces are working in masks. We also have definite information in this regard.'

He drew attention to the CJP's previous agitation on the NEET paper leak issue, which the party had reportedly withdrawn, suggesting the current movement lacked staying power. Without naming the Indian National Congress (Congress) or the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction directly, the BJP leader described the alliance of political forces behind the protest as a meeting of a 'half-dead' force joining hands with a 'dead' one to remain in public discourse.

Mamata Banerjee's Absence From Bengal Draws BJP's Rebuke

Bhattacharya also questioned Mamata Banerjee's decision to travel to New Delhi on the occasion of Mahalaya, a significant festival in West Bengal. 'On the occasion of Mahalaya today, the former West Bengal Chief Minister has gone to New Delhi instead of staying in the state. We want her to stay here during this time of festivity and visit various puja pandals. Where have all the big Trinamool Congress leaders gone?' he asked. Notably, Bhattacharya referred to Mamata as the 'former' Chief Minister — a pointed political jab that signals BJP's intent to unseat her at the next state election.

Mamata Claims Detention by Delhi Police

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee, in a live social media video message recorded from inside a police vehicle, alleged that she and other TMC leaders were prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar and were later detained by Delhi Police personnel while staging a sit-in demonstration near her official residence on South Avenue, Delhi.

'I wanted to join the movement of the youths at Jantar Mantar. But we were not allowed. Then we started a peaceful sit-in-demonstration in front of our house. But the police detained us and pushed us into a police van, which is now moving around Delhi. The BJP is going all-out to end democracy in India. But they will not ultimately be successful,' she said in her video message.

The TMC has not yet confirmed whether formal detention orders were issued or the grounds on which the leaders were taken into custody. Delhi Police had not issued an official statement at the time of reporting.

Context: The CJP Demand and Broader Political Stakes

The CJP agitation centres on the demand for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, though the organisation's credibility has been questioned by the ruling BJP, which points to the withdrawal of its earlier NEET paper leak protest as evidence of unreliable momentum. This comes amid a broader opposition effort to build pressure on the Election Commission ahead of scheduled state assembly elections. The incident adds a fresh flashpoint to already strained Centre-state political relations, with Bengal at the epicentre of BJP-TMC rivalry. How the situation develops — particularly around the legality and duration of Mamata's alleged detention — will determine the political fallout in the days ahead.