NDA slams Mamata Banerjee over viral slapping video at Kolkata march
Synopsis
A viral video of Mamata Banerjee slapping a TMC worker at a Kolkata protest march has handed the NDA a fresh political weapon — and exposed deepening cracks inside the Trinamool Congress. With BJP, JD-U, and other NDA allies piling on, the incident is fast becoming a flashpoint over political culture and party discipline in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
A video from 7 July showed Mamata Banerjee slapping a TMC worker during a protest march in Kolkata against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur .
The march ran from Ballygunge outpost to Hazra Crossing , held on the orders of the Calcutta High Court .
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma called on TMC to 'refrain from making any provocative statements' and urged all parties to uphold the 'dignity of democracy.' JD-U spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan warned that leaders who treat parties as 'personal property' are 'ultimately rejected by the public.' TMC alleged its workers were assaulted during the protest; BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi condemned the attacks but also called for TMC self-introspection.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday, 8 July sharply criticised All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a day after a video circulated showing her slapping a worker from her own party faction during a protest march in Kolkata. The incident has deepened the political controversy surrounding internal turmoil within the TMC.
What Happened at the Protest March
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 7 July, during a TMC-organised protest march against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur. The march, held following an order of the Calcutta High Court, proceeded from the Ballygunge outpost towards Hazra Crossing in south Kolkata. A video from the event, which quickly went viral, appeared to show Banerjee slapping a party worker — drawing immediate reactions from rival political formations.
NDA Leaders Train Fire on Banerjee
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma said: 'Now Mamata Banerjee wants violence, whereas the BJP and the government want to ensure that no violence is encouraged. Obviously, whoever indulges in violence will be punished. Therefore, the Trinamool Congress should also refrain from making any provocative statements.' He further appealed to all political parties to maintain the 'dignity of democracy.'
Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan added: 'Mamata Banerjee is still not ready to change. People who treat political parties as their personal property are ultimately rejected by the public. If Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress leadership do not refrain from such actions even now, the party will face even greater difficulties in the future.'
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh was more pointed, saying: 'Mamata Banerjee's party never had a structure... It was just a crowd, a group of some anti-social people... When it was time to control the situation, she didn't do it. Now, she is slapping the few people who are still there.'
Naqvi and JD-U Add to the Chorus
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi condemned the alleged attacks on TMC leaders in West Bengal, while also directing criticism at the party itself. 'Disappointment (among leaders) is usual after poll defeat, but such spectacle is rarely seen. They (Trinamool leaders) claim that they were attacked with eggs or slapped... they need to do self-introspection about the reasons due to which they (Mamata Banerjee and her loyalists) are being left by the party,' he said.
JD-U chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar acknowledged that disagreements are a natural part of politics but said 'nuisance cannot be tolerated.' He added: 'When Mamata Banerjee was the Chief Minister, she took retaliatory action; it is natural that every action will have a reaction.'
TMC's Counter-Claim
The NDA responses came after the Trinamool Congress alleged that its workers were assaulted during the protest march. The party's claims of attacks on its own leaders, including reports of egg-pelting and physical confrontations, have added another layer of dispute to an already charged political atmosphere in West Bengal. This comes amid broader signs of post-election stress within the TMC following recent electoral reverses, with internal fissures reportedly becoming more visible.
As the video continues to circulate and political tempers remain high, all eyes will be on whether the controversy triggers further fallout within the TMC or prompts a formal response from Banerjee's camp.
Point of View
But because of what it signals: a party leadership visibly struggling to maintain discipline after electoral setbacks. The NDA's coordinated pile-on — spanning BJP, JD-U, and multiple spokespersons — suggests this is being weaponised as a narrative about TMC's fitness to govern, not just a one-off incident. What mainstream coverage underplays is the irony embedded in Naqvi's statement: condemning attacks on TMC leaders while simultaneously questioning why those leaders are 'being left by the party.' West Bengal's political culture has long been marked by intra-party violence; the question is whether this moment marks a structural break in TMC's grip, or is simply another episode in a familiar cycle.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the viral video of Mamata Banerjee show?
The video, which circulated on 7 July, appeared to show TMC chief Mamata Banerjee slapping a worker from her own party faction during a protest march in Kolkata. The march was held against the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, and proceeded from Ballygunge outpost to Hazra Crossing on Calcutta High Court orders.
Why did the NDA criticise Mamata Banerjee over the video?
The BJP-led NDA condemned the incident as an example of political violence and poor leadership. BJP MP Dinesh Sharma called on TMC to avoid provocative statements, while JD-U leaders warned that treating a party as personal property leads to public rejection.
What was the context of the Kolkata protest march?
The protest march on 7 July was organised by the TMC in response to the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur, West Bengal. It was held following a Calcutta High Court order and moved from Ballygunge outpost towards Hazra Crossing in south Kolkata.
What did TMC claim happened at the protest?
The Trinamool Congress alleged that its workers were assaulted during the protest march, with reports of egg-pelting and physical confrontations against party leaders. BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi acknowledged these claims but called for TMC self-introspection.
What are the political implications for TMC?
The incident has spotlighted internal tensions within the TMC following recent electoral setbacks. NDA leaders across parties have used the episode to question the party's discipline and leadership, suggesting it could deepen difficulties for Banerjee and the TMC in West Bengal.
