A viral video from a Trinamool Congress (TMC) protest march in Kolkata has sparked a political controversy after it appeared to show TMC chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slapping one of her party workers during the rally.
The incident reportedly took place on July 8 during a protest march led by Banerjee from Ballygunge Phari to Hazra More over the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur.
The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows a man attempting to manage the crowd and clear a path for Banerjee as she moves through a large gathering of supporters. Moments later, Banerjee appears to strike the worker, triggering reactions online and criticism from political opponents.
The footage was shared by BJP MP Raju Bista, who alleged that the TMC chief lost her temper while the worker was trying to facilitate her movement through the crowd.
In a post on social media platform X, Bista claimed that the worker was helping control the crowd when Banerjee allegedly slapped him.
A man was trying to control the crowd and make way for Mamata.
But Mamata lost her cool and slapped her own party worker. pic.twitter.com/yshjJPvgsU
— Raju Bista (@RajuBistaBJP) July 8, 2026
The incident occurred amid heightened political tensions over the Baruipur case, which has become a major flashpoint between the BJP and the TMC.
The protest march itself also witnessed disruptions. According to reports, eggs were thrown at the rally as it moved through parts of south Kolkata. Clashes were also reported between BJP supporters and members of the TMC youth wing along the route.
Police personnel were deployed in large numbers and reportedly resorted to a baton charge after workers from both sides engaged in scuffles and attempted to block each other’s movements.
The rally had been organised by TMC youth workers after receiving permission from the Calcutta High Court. BJP supporters allegedly raised slogans against the TMC leadership and attempted to create human barricades along sections of the march route.
Following the clashes, Banerjee accused BJP workers of carrying out what she described as a “planned rampage” and alleged that TMC supporters, including women, were attacked during the protest.
Neither Banerjee nor the TMC had issued a specific response to the viral video at the time of publication. The authenticity and full context of the footage have not been independently verified.
The video, however, has added another layer of political controversy to an already charged atmosphere in West Bengal, where the Baruipur case continues to fuel sharp exchanges between the TMC and the ruling BJP.
