The leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Speaker Biman Banerjee, alleging that a Trinamool Congress MLA had attempted to assault him and hurled abusive language at him in the lobby of the
Assembly.

“Around 12.20pm, Purbashthali (Uttar) MLA Tapan Chatterjee rushed towards me and attempted to assault me in front of several MLAs. I felt insecure as the entry of central forces was banned inside the House. I wrote to the Speaker about it. It is the second time he has done so. Earlier, the ruling party MLA attempted to attack me inside the House,” said Adhikari.

A source said Chatterjee had stopped Adhikari when the latter was leaving the House with a few colleagues and asked the Nandigram MLA for an explanation about his statements during the Lok Sabha poll campaign. Adhikari had claimed during the campaign that Chatterjee had purchased two flats in Calcutta with illegal money.

“I asked Suvendu Adhikari to hand over the keys to my two flats in Calcutta as he knows where my flats are. He went to my area before the Lok Sabha polls and claimed in a public meeting that I had purchased two flats in Calcutta with illegal money. I come by train to attend the Assembly and return to my place every day. I just protested against his falsehood,” said Chatterjee.

The TMC MLA from East Burdwan district claimed that Adhikari had also made
false statements about his daughter’s educational qualifications.

When Chatterjee confronted Adhikari, the latter asked Opposition legislators and reporters to record his words. Later, Adhikari posted a 33-second video on his X social media handle, where Chatterjee was heard asking for the keys to his flat.

“(You) have to give me the keys to my flat. You claimed that my daughter passed (Madhyamik) in the third division. No, she is a double MA,” said Chatterjee.

During his election campaign in several districts, Adhikari mounted a sharp attack on local Trinamool leaders for their alleged involvement in corruption.

A Trinamool minister claimed that Chatterjee was probably the first TMC leader to confront Adhikari, demanding proof of his statements.

“He got angry with Adhikari as he does not have a flat in Calcutta. However, the MLA should fight against him legally. It was not
ethical to confront him publicly as it would help him reap political dividends,” said
the minister.

Adhikari wrote on X: “The lawlessness across WB seems to have trickled inside the WB Legislative Assembly.”

“If the Opposition MLAs are not safe inside the Assembly premises, think about the plight of opposition political workers in the state of West Bengal,” he added.

When BJP MLA and chief whip Shankar Ghosh flagged the issue in the Assembly, Speaker Biman Banerjee said he would probe the matter.

“Besides the complaint lodged with me by him (Adhikari), the (TMC) MLA also met me and explained his side. However, I will order a probe in this connection and the report will be tabled in the House,” said the Speaker.

Adjournment motion

The BJP legislative party protested inside the House after Speaker Biman Banerjee withheld consent for an adjournment motion regarding the state’s law and order and violence against women.

The motion, moved by Agnimitra Paul, demanded a statement from the chief minister. However, in her absence, the legislators requested that someone else handle the
discussion.

The Speaker didn’t permit any discussion.

Additional reporting by Saibal Gupta