West Bengal's Panchayat and Rural Affairs Minister Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, accused opposition parties of cultivating a culture of political violence in the state, while firmly asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) neither endorses nor participates in such activities. His remarks came a day after fresh clashes in Kolkata put the ruling dispensation on the defensive.

The Incidents Behind the Remarks

The flashpoint was a series of alleged attacks on Tuesday in Kolkata. Naoda MLA Humayun Kabir, a former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, was allegedly beaten outside the East Jadavpur police station by BJP-backed miscreants, according to opposition claims. Separately, an allegation emerged that eggs were thrown at Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) leader and lawyer Sayan Banerjee at the Baruipur court. MITC leader Upasana Chowdhury was also reportedly targeted in what the opposition described as a coordinated assault.

Tension also gripped Mukundapur, on the outskirts of Kolkata, over a dispute regarding the occupation of Trinamool party offices. BJP workers staged a protest outside the East Jadavpur police station when Trinamool leaders arrived to lodge a complaint, escalating the standoff. Kabir was allegedly attacked when he attempted to enter the station.

What Ghosh Said

Ghosh did not deny the incidents but reframed them, calling the Mukundapur episode a deliberate 'drama' and questioning the logic of targeting Kabir. 'Why would they beat Humayun Kabir? He is neither Trinamool nor BJP. Today, all the opposition parties, who are frustrated, are fighting among themselves. They are destroying their offices and trying to join the campaign by creating drama,' he said.

The minister placed the blame squarely on parties that previously held state power. 'There should be a limit to everything. This culture was initiated by the party which was in power in the state till early this year. Now they are in the Opposition but still maintaining that culture,' he alleged. He also questioned the police response, asking how egg-wielding individuals were allowed onto court premises.

'We have no problem with these incidents. They are facing an existential crisis now. Nothing will happen by creating such dramas,' Ghosh added.

BJP's Stated Position on Political Violence

Ghosh reiterated that the BJP's official stance opposes political violence. 'We want this to stop. We don't want to see the culture of political violence in the state anymore,' he said. However, critics argue the party's distancing is unconvincing given that BJP workers were present at the flashpoints and the alleged attacks were attributed to BJP-backed individuals, according to opposition accounts.

Notably, West Bengal has a long and documented history of politically motivated violence, with successive ruling parties — including the Left Front and Trinamool Congress — accused of using muscle power to control territory and party offices. The BJP's rise in the state has been accompanied by its own share of such allegations.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The clashes come amid a shifting political landscape in West Bengal, where the BJP reportedly assumed a stronger foothold earlier in 2026. Opposition parties — the TMC, CPI-M, and others — are navigating a difficult transition from power to a fragmented opposition role. Infighting and turf disputes over party infrastructure, as seen in the Mukundapur office standoff, are likely to persist. Law enforcement's role in mediating these confrontations will face continued scrutiny in the days ahead.