TMC alleges murder plot against Abhishek Banerjee at Kolkata airport; BJP denies

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers of attempting to murder party leader Abhishek Banerjee at the Kolkata airport. The TMC claimed that a group of BJP supporters armed with weapons gathered near the VIP lounge and tried to attack Banerjee as he was about to board a flight to Delhi.

In a statement, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, 'This is a clear attempt on the life of our leader. They were armed with weapons and had planned this attack. We will raise this issue with the Election Commission and demand strict action against those responsible.' The party also shared a video on social media showing a crowd of people shouting slogans near the airport terminal.

However, the Kolkata Police has not confirmed any such incident. A senior police officer said they had received information about a gathering of BJP supporters outside the airport but no violence or attempt on anyone's life was reported. 'Security was adequate, and Abhishek Banerjee boarded his flight without any incident,' the officer added.

The BJP denied the allegations. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar called the TMC's claims 'baseless and politically motivated'. He said, 'The TMC is trying to divert attention from its own failures by fabricating stories. We demand a fair investigation into what actually happened.'

Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is the TMC's national general secretary and a key campaigner for the party. The incident occurred a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to West Bengal, prompting speculation of political tensions in the state.

The Election Commission has taken note of the allegations and is likely to seek a report from the state administration. Political observers say that such incidents heighten the already charged atmosphere in West Bengal, which is gearing up for assembly elections next year.

Both parties have been involved in a series of confrontations in recent months, with the TMC accusing the BJP of trying to poach its legislators and the BJP alleging an increase in political violence under the TMC government.