Trinamool MLAs hold protest in West Bengal Assembly over hawker eviction and torture against party workers

Trinamool Congress MLAs held protests in the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) over the eviction of hawkers and torture against party workers in post-poll violence. In the past two weeks, dozens of party leaders have been arrested by the State police, and many hawkers have been evicted for encroachment. Senior leaders like Firhad Hakim, Kunal Ghosh, Ritabrata Banerjee, and Nayana Bandyopadhyay were seen leading the sit-in demonstration inside the Assembly compound on Wednesday (May 20, 2026). Under the leadership of Beleghata MLA Mr. Ghosh, they raised slogans against the “oppression of people with bulldozers”. With the Constitution preamble around their necks, the MLAs sat in front of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statue to voice their protest against the bulldozer action. “Protest against hawker evictions without rehabilitation. Immediate action demanded for the Trinamool workers tortured in post-election terror. Protecting the right to religious practice for people of all religions. Protest against the price hike of petrol, gas, diesel,” Mr. Ghosh wrote on his social media while sharing pictures of their sit-in protest. Reacting to these developments, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Minister Agnimitra Paul said that before their government can start their own work, it will take them a long time to undo the wrongdoings of the previous government and punish the wrongdoers. “They have given offline tenders for crores. Aroop Biswas (former TMC minister) has made toilets using crores, its legality and government norms are in question. The beautification they have done is distasteful. Is this beautification or a pervert activity?” Ms. Paul said. She added that any illegal work cannot become legal under their government. In Bankura’s Chatna area, government authorities also razed an allegedly illegal sand smuggling unit. They have also seized earthmovers in this drive. On Wednesday (May 20, 2026) morning, bulldozers were seen in Kolkata’s Bansdroni area, where it was seen taking down a structure for “illegal encroachment”. This was a part of the last government’s city beautification project. In Howrah’s Shyampur Police Station area, bulldozers were seen razing illegal construction in the area. Such bulldozer action has also been seen in Kolkata’s Tiljala, Garia, New Market, and other areas in the past two weeks. In the past few days across Kolkata and Howrah, many hawker settlements and shops on footpaths have been dismantled by bulldozers in a major crackdown on illegal encroachments by the new government. Areas like Howrah and Sealdah Railway station saw massive anti-encroachment drives. Series of arrests Police also arrested Trinamool leader Debraj Chakraborty’s close aide Amit Chakraborty in the wee hours of Wednesday (May 20, 2026). He was arrested for escalating tensions at a BJP victory rally after their landslide victory on May 4. Even Debraj Chakraborty, who is a councillor in New Town area also faced questioning in the hands of police in relation to 2021 post-poll violence. Two women leaders allegedly close to jailed TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, Mithu Sardar and Sabita Ray were also arrested from South 24 Parganas Sonarpur area. They were arrested for allegedly inciting violence against Enforcement Directorate officials in 2024. Many other party leaders, including panchayat pradhans, councillors, former MLA’s family members, and others have also come under the police net. Allegations range from corruption, extortion, threats, and 2021 post-poll violence. TMC has also claimed they have lost at least 10 party members to post-poll violence in 2026 and thousands have been injured. Three of their fact-finding teams have also met many of the victims families across the State.