Mamata Banerjee sits on dharna in Kolkata to protest ‘post-poll violence’

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday started her day-long sit-in in central Kolkata to protest against alleged post-poll attacks on party workers and leaders following the BJP's victory in recent assembly elections

Banerjee reached the dharna site at Esplanade's Y-channel after the TMC's appeal to hold the protest at the adjacent Rani Rashmoni Road was turned down by the Kolkata Police

"We were not given permission to set up a stage or use microphones," Banerjee said, while addressing the crowd using a megaphone

Banerjee also used the platform to condemn the alleged assault on her nephew and senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, along with raising concerns over hawker evictions in the city

The protest was marked by chaos with TMC workers shouting slogans amid the former chief minister's speech

Political veterans of the Trinamool Congress were prominently present alongside Banerjee during the demonstration

Senior leaders including Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen stood by the party chief throughout the protest

However, the absence of many newly elected TMC legislators drew attention among political watchers

Banerjee maintained that the sit-in would continue until the evening as planned, underscoring the party’s determination to keep the spotlight on allegations of post-poll violence and recent incidents involving TMC leaders