TMC chief Mamata Banerjee led a sit-in protest and march in Kolkata’s Rani Rashmoni Avenue and Esplanade area over alleged attacks on party leaders, including her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, despite police reportedly denying permission for the demonstration. Addressing supporters, Mamata challenged the BJP to arrest her if it wished and said she would take the protest to Delhi if not allowed to demonstrate in Kolkata. She alleged that vote counting in 177 of West Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats had been manipulated and claimed that TMC leaders and MLAs were being threatened by the police. Mamata further alleged that she possessed recordings linked to an alleged attack attempt on Abhishek Banerjee. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee accused authorities of intimidation, misuse of police machinery, attacks on party workers, forced displacement of supporters and obstruction of political activities across the state.