TMC Meeting Called Off: 60 MLAs Skip Mamata Banerjee's Meet Following Abhishek Attack

Kolkata: A major political development unfolded in West Bengal on Sunday. A crucial meeting of newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs was cancelled. Party chief Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to chair the meeting, but three-quarters, 60 out of 80 MLAs, did not attend. The meeting was scheduled to take place at Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence in Kolkata.

What did TMC say?

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh described the MLAs' absence as an emergency. He said the situation arose following the attack on TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday and the alleged attack on party MP Kalyan Banerjee on Sunday. He said many MLAs were busy handling the situation on the ground and therefore did not attend.

“The meeting was pre-scheduled. However, in the aftermath of the attacks on our leaders, our MLAs are organising protest programmes at the ground level, following which severe police action has been unleashed on our workers. The MLAs, who are stuck assisting our arrested party workers, had informed the legislative party of the developments and requested that the meeting be temporarily postponed… We are in touch with them,” TMC spokesperson and Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh said outside the former chief minister’s residence.

“We will hold this meeting at a later date, the details of which will be duly communicated to our MLAs. All our legislators have communicated that they are firmly standing with the party during these difficult times,” Ghosh added.

The absent MLAs had informed the legislative party in advance and requested that the meeting be postponed.

STORY | TMC legislators' meet cancelled as most MLAs skip; party says absence due to Abhishek attack fallout

A scheduled meeting of newly-elected Trinamool Congress legislators, which was supposed to be chaired by party supremo Mamata Banerjee, was called off on Sunday after… pic.twitter.com/KhpyPZ1n5g

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 1, 2026

When will the meeting happen?

Kunal Ghosh said that in light of this reasonable request, the Trinamool Legislative Party has decided to cancel the meeting for now. However, he also added that by the scheduled time of 3 pm, around 20 MLAs had reached the meeting venue. According to sources, despite the low attendance, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke with the MLAs present. 

However, a formal meeting could not be held. The TMC also indicated that the meeting would be held at a later date and all MLAs would be informed in due course. Meanwhile, the TMC has also prepared a new outline for its upcoming political programs. It has decided to intensify protests in the next 48 hours.

What about protest rallies?

A TMC spokesperson said that party leaders have been asked to organise protest rallies on June 1 at the block level in rural areas and in municipal wards in urban areas. These rallies will condemn the attacks on Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee, and other activists. TMC MLA for the Beleghata constituency in West Bengal has announced a one-day symbolic protest in Kolkata.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead the protest on Tuesday. The protest will be held on Rani Rashmoni Road in Esplanade. The party said it will protest the ongoing post-election violence and the eviction of hawkers by bulldozers in the state. The TMC said its next political program will be announced from the protest stage on June 2.