Bengal Assembly chaos; BJP's Shankar Ghosh suspended and thrown out, Mamata intervenes amid sloganeering

Bengal Assembly chaos; BJP's Shankar Ghosh suspended and thrown out, Mamata intervenes amid sloganeering

Today the West Bengal Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee fiercely criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), branding them "gaddi chor" and "vote chor" during a special session addressing attacks on Bengali-speaking migrants in various states. The session, marked by protests and sloganeering from BJP MLAs, saw Mamata accusing the party of undermining Bengali identity and orchestrating voter list manipulations to sway the 2026 Assembly elections.

The tension escalated when Speaker Biman Banerjee suspended BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh for disruptive behavior, prompting BJP legislators to surround him and attempt to obstruct marshals from escorting him out. Mamata’s fiery remarks, including calling the BJP a “disgrace to the nation,” underscored her resolve to protect Bengal’s cultural and political identity.

The session, the final day of a three-day special discussion, focused on alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states. Mamata expressed frustration that the BJP avoided engaging in discussions about the Bengali language, instead resorting to disruptive tactics. She claimed to have allocated time for the opposition to speak, but accused them of derailing the conversation.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) moved a resolution condemning the mistreatment of Bengalis, highlighting their constitutional rights and the global significance of Bengali as the seventh most-spoken language. The resolution, backed by Mamata, called for unity to safeguard the dignity and safety of Bengali communities across India.

The chaos intensified when BJP MLAs, led by figures like Shankar Ghosh, protested the Speaker’s decision to suspend him for repeatedly ignoring calls to maintain decorum. Ghosh was warned multiple times before marshals were instructed to remove him, leading to a dramatic scene where BJP legislators shouted slogans and tried to block his exit.

Speaker Biman Banerjee condemned the BJP’s actions as a deliberate attempt to insult the Assembly, stating that their behavior was a consistent pattern of disrespect. The protests forced Mamata to pause and sit during the uproar, highlighting the deep political divide in the House.

Mamata’s accusations extended beyond the Assembly’s proceedings, touching on broader allegations of BJP’s electoral malpractices. She reiterated claims that the BJP, with alleged complicity from the Election Commission, was manipulating voter lists by adding fake voters from states like Haryana and Gujarat to influence polls, a tactic she said was used in Delhi and Maharashtra. 

The session reflects Mamata’s broader strategy to rally Bengali pride ahead of the 2026 elections. By framing the BJP as anti-Bengali and accusing them of targeting migrant workers, she aims to consolidate her voter base, particularly among the state’s significant Bengali-speaking population.

Despite the disruptions, Mamata remained defiant, urging her MLAs to maintain peace while condemning the BJP’s actions as shameful. The Assembly session, meant to address serious issues of migrant harassment, became a battleground for political one-upmanship, with both sides digging in.