West Bengal post‑poll violence spurs court orders and FIR against TMC leaders

Following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly election on May 4 2026, multiple reports detailed widespread post‑poll violence against Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, vandalism of party offices and displacement of residents. Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, appearing in a lawyer’s robe before the Calcutta High Court, argued a public‑interest litigation that alleged police inaction, attacks on women, children and minorities, and the looting of homes. The court directed the state police to ensure the safe return of all displaced persons, irrespective of political affiliation, and to maintain law and order at the ground level.

In a separate development, the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station registered a First Information Report against TMC national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, accusing him of inciting violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the election campaign. The TMC described the FIR as a political vendetta by the new BJP government. BJP leaders and TMC spokespersons exchanged accusations, with Banerjee’s speeches cited under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Representation of the People Act.

Mamata Banerjee repeatedly told the bench “Bengal is not a bulldozer state,” while TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh warned that the BJP’s “fear psychosis” would not work in the state. The Bar Council of India subsequently sought verification of Banerjee’s legal standing after her courtroom appearance. The controversy highlights escalating political tensions and legal battles in West Bengal after the 2026 election.