The West Bengal BJP on Wednesday (8th April) filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India, accusing Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, of calling for violence against BJP workers during a rally in Raina, West Bengal.
The complaint stated that Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks at the rally contained explicit threats of violence against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its karyakartas. It said that Banerjee made the following remarks at the rally-
“In the first phase—wherever voting takes place, from the northern regions all the way to Junglemahal—everyone must break the BJP’s head, neck, arms, and legs. And in the second phase—in East Bardhaman, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, and Kolkata—we will break their necks and spines, and then bid them farewell with the chant: ‘Bolo Hari, Hari Bol’ [equivalent of Ram Naam Satya Hai] lift the outsiders onto the funeral bier!”
BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee made inflammatory remarks at a rally in Raina, West Bengal, inciting violence against party workers pic.twitter.com/2iIJ2U1sLK
— IANS (@ians_india) April 8, 2026
The party said that Banerjee’s inflammatory remarks were a direct call for violence against BJP workers and an attempt to intimidate political opponents. “It is submitted that the above objectionable remarks constitute a direct and unequivocal call to violence against a recognised national political party and its workers. The language employed is highly inflammatory and is clearly intended to instil fear, intimidate political opponents, and vitiate the atmosphere necessary for the conduct of free and fair elections in the State of West Bengal. Such remarks pose a serious threat to public order and democratic functioning,” the letter stated.
The BJP said that Banerjee’s remarks violated the Model Code of Conduct and undermined the principle of free and fair elections in the state, which goes to the polls on 23rd April. “It undermines the principle of free and fair elections by attempting to coerce and intimidate party workers and supporters through threats of physical harm. The said statements are also liable to attract relevant penal provisions under law relating to incitement to violence and disturbance of public order, thereby necessitating immediate action,” the party said.
The party pointed out that it made similar representations against CM Mamata Banerjee’s “vitriolic remarks,” but no action was taken against her. It highlighted how, during the 2021 assembly elections in the state, post-poll violence happened at the behest of TMC leadership, which resulted in deaths of more than 55 BJP karyakartas, gang rapes of women, countless injuries, and property damage. It added that since Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee exercise immense influence on the TMC cadre, their statements can have the “effect of aggravating tensions and emboldening cadres, thereby creating an unpleasant and volatile electoral environment”.
Urging the Election Commission to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the democratic process, the BJP requested the imposition of necessary restrictions on Abhishek Banerjee and Mamata Banerjee.
