Bengal Assembly chaos: After Shankar Ghosh, Speaker suspends Agnimitra Paul alongwith 3 other BJP MLAs

After Shankar Ghosh, Speaker suspends Agnimitra Paul alongwith 3 other BJP MLAs Mihir Goswami, Ashoke Dinda & Bankim Ghosh.

The West Bengal Assembly descended into chaos today, during a special session called to address the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech was disrupted by a raucous protest from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs.

The session, part of a three-day debate that began on September 1, saw tensions boil over when BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, joined by Agnimitra Pal, led a noisy demonstration, prompting Speaker Biman Banerjee to suspend both under Rule 348. The confrontation escalated into a physical scuffle with marshals, who forcibly removed Ghosh after he and other BJP MLAs tore papers and lay on the floor in protest.

The incident, centered on the emotive issue of Bengali identity, has intensified the political slugfest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition BJP ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.The special session was convened to discuss a TMC-sponsored resolution condemning the alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in states like Maharashtra and Odisha, where they have reportedly been detained and labeled as “Bangladeshi” immigrants.

CM Mamata Banerjee, who has championed Bengali pride through initiatives like the ‘Shramshree’ scheme, began addressing the Assembly, accusing the BJP of orchestrating “linguistic terrorism” against Bengalis. Her remarks were met with immediate resistance from BJP MLAs, who shouted slogans and disrupted proceedings. Mamata urged Speaker Banerjee to allow the opposition to speak, but instead of presenting their views, the BJP contingent, led by Ghosh, escalated the protest, accusing the TMC of politicizing the issue for electoral gains.Speaker Biman Banerjee, attempting to restore order, issued multiple warnings to Shankar Ghosh, the BJP’s Chief Whip in the Assembly, to cease the disruption.

However, Ghosh and other BJP MLAs persisted, shouting and refusing to comply. Frustrated, the Speaker invoked Rule 348 to suspend Ghosh for the remainder of the session, ordering marshals to escort him out. The situation turned dramatic as Ghosh lay on the floor, surrounded by fellow BJP MLAs, including Agnimitra Pal, who tore papers and threw them in defiance. A prolonged tussle ensued, with marshals struggling to remove Ghosh amid physical resistance. Pal, who had earlier questioned the Speaker’s suspension of Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, was also suspended for her role in the chaos.

The Bengali harassment issue has been a flashpoint in West Bengal’s politics, with the TMC accusing the BJP of targeting Bengali-speaking migrants to undermine their identity. The resolution, moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on September 1, highlighted Bengali as the fifth most-spoken language globally and condemned instances of violence and deportation faced by migrant workers. The TMC claims that workers have been beaten and deported despite possessing valid Aadhaar and PAN cards, with some allegedly sent to Bangladesh by the Border Security Force. Mamata’s call for a “Bhasha Andolan” (language movement) has galvanized her base, framing the issue as a defense of Bengali pride against BJP’s alleged anti-Bengali policies.

The BJP, however, has countered by accusing the TMC of exploiting the issue to deflect attention from governance failures, including a recent West Bengal School Service Commission scandal involving tainted candidates linked to TMC leaders. The opposition argues that the TMC’s focus on Bengali identity is a ploy to stoke regional sentiments ahead of the 2026 polls.

The suspension of Ghosh and Pal, both vocal critics of the TMC, has further inflamed tensions, with the BJP vowing to stage protests outside the Assembly. The party’s walkout on September 2, following Adhikari’s suspension for protesting Education Minister Bratya Basu’s remarks about the Indian Army, underscores the deepening divide between the two parties.As the special session concludes on September 4, the fallout from the suspensions and the broader debate on Bengali harassment is likely to reverberate across West Bengal’s political landscape.

The TMC’s push to pass the resolution unanimously reflects its strategy to consolidate Bengali voters, while the BJP’s aggressive protests signal its intent to challenge Mamata’s narrative. The chaotic scenes in the Assembly, coupled with the physical removal of Ghosh, have cast a spotlight on the challenges of maintaining decorum in a polarized political climate.