Mamata Banerjee injured during campaign in Nandigram, alleges 'conspiracy'

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that she was attacked in Nandigram where she had gone to file her nomination for the upcoming elections. Visuals from the spot showed security guards lifting and placing a visibly shaken Banerjee onto the backseat of a car. Banerjee, who has sustained many injuries in the past, said she was pushed by 4-5 men while she was trying to get into her car. “See how it is swelling up,” Banerjee said, commenting on the attack.

Asked if it was a planned attack, she said, “Of course it is a conspiracy... There were no policemen around me. The public was there but they were not at fault, these men pushed me...”

Banerjee, who was expected to spend the night in Nandigram, soon left for Kolkata.


Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who was accompanying the CM, said: “She offered puja at one after another temple. There was massive response from people everywhere. At about 6.15 pm, when she was about to leave Birulia Anchal after performing puja in a temple, a few unknown persons pushed her to the car and forcibly shut down the door, as a result of which she sustained injuries in her left leg and suffered pain in the waist,” he said.

Media reports showed an eyewitness called Suman Maity who said Banerjee was surrounded by crowds and she got hurt as the car was moving slowly and the door was open, Another witness said the door of the car hit a poster which ledto the CM getting hurt. Both the witnesses denied having seen anyone pushing the CM. She was admitted to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital with injuries to her left leg. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived late in the evening to see her but was met with ‘Go back slogans’ by TMC workers.

BJP leader Arjun Singh said the CM was trying to create a scare and sympathy among people. “If she was really injured, it is a reflection ofhow bad the law and order is during her government's tenure.” Earlier in the day, she filed her nomination from Nandigram for the upcoming assembly elections. Accompanied by party general secretary Subrata Bakshi, Banerjee filed her papers at the Haldia sub-divisional office after taking part in a two-km roadshow. She had addressed a party meeting on Tuesday and had visited four temples and a dargah.