Eggs thrown at TMCP chief Upasana Chowdhury at Kolkata college on Independence Day
Synopsis
On Independence Day, TMCP president Upasana Chowdhury was denied entry to Asutosh College for a flag hoisting and then pelted with eggs — an act she blamed on BJP and ABVP members. The incident slots into a pattern of 'egg therapy' targeting TMC figures in post-election West Bengal, but this time the target was a sitting student-wing president, not an arrested leader, sharpening the political stakes.
Key Takeaways
Upasana Chowdhury , president of TMCP , had eggs thrown at her at Asutosh College, Kolkata , on 15 August .
She and her group were denied entry to the college for lacking identity cards; police also asked them not to gather at the gate.
Chowdhury alleged BJP and ABVP members carried out the attack and accused police of inaction; both organisations denied involvement.
She protested via Facebook Live immediately after the incident, terming it an orchestrated disruption.
The incident follows a pattern of 'egg therapy' against TMC figures in West Bengal since the BJP came to power in the state.
Upasana Chowdhury, president of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and a youth leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), had eggs thrown at her during a flag hoisting programme at Asutosh College in Kolkata on 15 August. The incident triggered a sharp escalation of tension on the college premises and drew immediate political accusations from both sides.
What Happened at Asutosh College
Chowdhury and other TMC workers arrived at Asutosh College on Saturday morning to hoist the national flag as part of Independence Day celebrations. Security personnel on duty denied them entry into the campus, citing the absence of valid college identity cards. Police officers also instructed the group not to gather in front of the college gate, which reportedly heightened tensions in the area.
Shortly after, eggs were hurled at Chowdhury, striking her head and body. She alleged that individuals who had entered the college without being asked to produce identity cards were responsible for the attack.
Chowdhury's Allegations
Taking to a Facebook Live session immediately after the incident, Chowdhury alleged that members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) carried out the attack. She also accused the police of selectively enforcing identity checks and of failing to act against the alleged perpetrators.
'The police did not tell them anything, they did not even check their identity cards! But when we went to the college to hoist the national flag, we were branded as outsiders. Eggs were thrown by the BJP and ABVP members,' Chowdhury said.
BJP and ABVP Deny Involvement
Both the BJP and ABVP denied the allegations. An ABVP member at Asutosh College said Chowdhury had been 'the victim of public anger,' adding that those unhappy with the TMC had vented their frustration at the group. No independent verification of either account was immediately available.
The 'Egg Therapy' Pattern
The incident is part of a broader trend that has emerged in West Bengal following the recent change of government. Since the BJP came to power in the state after the West Bengal Assembly election, a number of TMC leaders, former ministers, and councillors have been arrested on charges including extortion, assault, molestation, and intimidation, according to reports.
In several of those cases, bystanders threw eggs at the arrested leaders as they were escorted by police, with crowds chanting slogans labelling them 'thieves.' Protesters have taken to calling the practice 'egg therapy' — a term Chowdhury herself referenced in her protest, rejecting its application to her situation.
What Comes Next
No arrests had been reported in connection with the Asutosh College incident as of the time of reporting. The episode is likely to intensify the already fraught political climate in Kolkata, where student-wing clashes between the TMC and BJP-ABVP have grown more frequent since the change of government in the state.
Point of View
On Independence Day, at a public institution. That escalation in profile and symbolism deserves scrutiny beyond the egg-count. The BJP-ABVP denial follows a predictable script, but so does TMC's framing of every confrontation as a police-aided conspiracy. The harder question — who controls the campuses now, and by what means — is one mainstream coverage consistently sidesteps.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Upasana Chowdhury and why was she at Asutosh College?
Upasana Chowdhury is the president of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the student wing of the All India Trinamool Congress. She went to Asutosh College in Kolkata on 15 August to hoist the national flag as part of Independence Day celebrations.
Why were Chowdhury and her group denied entry to the college?
Security personnel and police officers on duty at Asutosh College refused the group entry because they did not possess valid college identity cards. Police also instructed them not to assemble in front of the college gate.
Who does Chowdhury blame for throwing the eggs?
Chowdhury alleged that members of the BJP and ABVP threw the eggs and that the police failed to intervene or check the identity of those inside the campus. Both the BJP and ABVP have denied any involvement.
What is 'egg therapy' in the context of West Bengal politics?
'Egg therapy' is a term used by protesters in West Bengal to describe the act of pelting eggs at TMC leaders, particularly those being arrested or escorted by police on charges such as extortion and assault since the BJP came to power in the state. Chowdhury referenced the term in her protest, rejecting its use against her.
Were any arrests made after the Asutosh College incident?
No arrests had been reported in connection with the egg-pelting at Asutosh College as of the time of reporting. The matter is likely to draw further political attention given the high-profile nature of the target and the Independence Day timing.
