West Bengal Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the stone-pelting and scuffle that targeted Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee during his visit to violence-hit South Sonarpur on Saturday. The development has intensified political tensions in the state following the BJP’s victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.

The arrests were made after overnight raids on Sunday, with police relying heavily on video footage from the area. Officials said the accused have been identified as local residents allegedly linked to the incident.

Attack During Political Visit

Abhishek Banerjee had gone to South Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district to meet TMC workers who claimed they were targeted in post-poll violence. According to party leaders, a group of protesters, reportedly BJP supporters, surrounded his vehicle, raised slogans, and pelted him with stones, eggs, and shoes. His shirt was torn in the scuffle.

Security personnel quickly intervened and escorted the MP out of the area. Images and videos circulating on social media showed Banerjee emerging wearing a protective helmet. Party workers said the situation turned chaotic within minutes of his arrival.

Mamata Banerjee Calls it a Conspiracy

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited Banerjee at a Kolkata hospital, strongly condemned the attack. She described it as a “pre-planned conspiracy” and said the MP was lucky to have escaped serious injury.

“If he had not been wearing a helmet, he could have died on the spot,” Mamata told reporters. She claimed that blood clots had formed following the assault and questioned the sequence of medical events. 

The Chief Minister alleged that BJP leaders and a senior police officer had put pressure on hospital authorities to discharge Abhishek Banerjee early. She raised doubts over his initial admission to the Intensive Therapy Unit and subsequent shift.

Shift to Home Treatment

Banerjee has since been taken home from the hospital. According to Mamata, he will now be under the care of a family doctor, with oxygen cylinders and other necessary equipment arranged at his residence. 

TMC sources said the MP met the family of a local party worker who was killed in post-election clashes in the region before the attack occurred.

Police Investigation Underway

South 24 Parganas police have registered a case and are examining multiple video clips and eyewitness statements. A senior officer confirmed that further arrests cannot be ruled out as the probe continues. 

The area has a history of political clashes between TMC and BJP cadres. South Sonarpur remains one of the more sensitive pockets in the district, with repeated incidents reported in recent years.

Post-Poll Violence Backdrop

The incident comes weeks after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results, in which the BJP secured a historic majority. The party, led by Suvendu Adhikari, won 208 seats while the TMC was reduced to 80. Several seats in Abhishek Banerjee’s parliamentary constituency also went to the BJP. 

The Sonarpur South Assembly seat is currently held by BJP MLA Roopa Ganguly, who defeated the TMC candidate in the polls. Local tensions have remained high since the results were declared, with both sides accusing each other of violence and intimidation.

Reactions Pour In

The BJP has denied any involvement in the attack and accused the TMC of staging the incident to gain sympathy and divert attention from post-poll setbacks. Party leaders called Mamata Banerjee’s allegations “baseless and politically motivated.”

Senior TMC leaders, meanwhile, demanded a fair and time-bound investigation and alleged that the local administration was soft on the attackers. 

The attack has once again highlighted the deeply polarised political atmosphere in rural and semi-urban pockets of South 24 Parganas. Many residents say everyday life continues to be disrupted by rival political groups even after the elections.

As of now, Abhishek Banerjee is reported to be stable. Police have increased security in the South Sonarpur area to prevent any further flare-ups. The case remains under active investigation.

Congress Returns to Power in Kerala After 10 Years; Thalapathy Vijay’s TVK Emerges as Single Largest Party in Tamil Nadu

In a dramatic reshaping of India’s political map, the Congress-led United Democratic Front has returned to power in Kerala after a decade, while actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu, securing 107 of the 234 seats. Meanwhile, the BJP has consolidated its hold in Assam, and the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) has retained power in Puducherry, leading to a complex political realignment in these four regions.

Kerala: Congress-led UDF Storms to Power

Kerala voters have delivered a resounding mandate for the Congress-led UDF, ending the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) 10-year rule. The UDF has won 102 of the 140 seats, far surpassing the required 71 for a majority. The Congress alone secured 63 seats, with its allies—the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Kerala Congress factions—adding 39 more. The LDF, led by the CPI(M), has been reduced to 26 seats, marking a significant setback for the Left in the state.

The victory is attributed to a wave of anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose government faced criticism over economic mismanagement, high unemployment, and corruption scandals. Despite maintaining strict law-and-order, voters have signaled a desire for change by rejecting the status quo. The UDF’s win is historic, as it is the first time in over five decades that no Left government remains in power in India, with the Left already ousted from Bengal and Tripura in recent years.

Tamil Nadu: TVK’s Superstar Debut

Vijay’s TVK has made a sensational electoral debut in Tamil Nadu, triumphing in the 234-member Assembly elections as the single largest party with 107 seats—just 11 shy of an outright majority. The party’s vote share is approximately 34.86%, significantly outpacing the DMK at 24.19% and the AIADMK at 21.35%. The DMK, now in second place with 59 seats, faces the loss of its leader and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Kolathur stronghold, defeated by TVK’s V.S. Babu by 8,795 votes in a major upset.

The victory is fueled by widespread discontent with the DMK and AIADMK’s dynastic politics, rising unemployment, and agricultural distress. TVK, launched by Vijay in 2022 to address corruption and inequality, has attracted urban youth and marginal farmers. The party’s narrative of “change” resonates amid the 10% unemployment rate and 15% inflation in the state. Stalin’s consolation prize election from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni—by a narrow margin—highlights the party’s humility, but TVK now leads in government formation talks, likely requiring Congress support.

Assam: BJP Considers Saataval

In Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cemented its dominance, winning 82 of the 126 seats—surpassing the 64 majority mark—on a 38.35% vote share. The Congress has slipped to 19 seats with 29.34%, while allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) secure 10 each, and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) takes 2. This victory extends the BJP’s rule to a third term, driven by infrastructure development, job creation, and welfare schemes.

Puducherry: NDA Retains with AINRC Edge

The NDA retained power in Puducherry, with AINRC leading the 30-member Assembly with 12 seats, followed by AIADMK and BJP at 6 and 4 respectively. The DMK and Congress each hold 5 and 1, with TVK winning 2 and independents securing 3. This balance reflects the region’s diversity and coalition dynamics.

Public Impact and Future Outlook

The results signal a national shift toward regional discontent with entrenched parties, favoring fresh faces like Vijay’s TVK and Congress’s resurgence in Kerala. The UDF’s win in Kerala promises anti-corruption drives and social welfare reforms, while TVK’s rise in Tamil Nadu may force alliances with Congress for a stable government. Assam’s BJP victory underscores nostalgia for 2022’s “Saffron Wave,” though Opposition parties may regroup in the next 2026 elections.