Bulldozer Rolls Up to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's Doorstep, Footpath Shed Demolished in Kolkata

Bulldozer Deployed Outside Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata Residence

A bulldozer reached the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee in Kalighat, south Kolkata, on Thursday, November 12, 2026, as civic authorities carried out a demolition drive to clear an obstructed footpath.

Municipal workers removed a temporary bamboo shed outside the residence at 121 Kalighat Road. An iron gate installed outside the boundary wall was also dismantled using a gas cutter, as authorities said it was restricting pedestrian movement.

A substantial contingent of Kolkata Police personnel and central forces was deployed in the area during the operation. The demolition was carried out by civic workers in the presence of police personnel.

Civic Authorities Cite Footpath Encroachment

Officials from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation said the temporary structure occupied public footpath space and caused inconvenience to pedestrians. Local residents had also reportedly raised concerns that the obstruction forced people to walk along the road.

The civic operation began after the structure became the centre of a political controversy. Authorities completed the removal of the bamboo shed on Thursday morning, clearing the affected stretch of footpath.

TMC Says Shed Was Built for Security Arrangements

The Trinamool Congress maintained that the shed had originally been erected by the West Bengal Directorate of Security when Abhishek Banerjee was provided Z-plus security cover.

TMC spokesperson Arka Nag said the structure had been built to accommodate security personnel and was not an unauthorised construction put up by the MP. The party also stated that arrangements had already been made to dismantle it after the additional security cover was withdrawn.

According to reports, Banerjee's office staff had started removing the temporary structure on Wednesday night, before civic authorities arrived to complete the work the following morning.

Abhishek Banerjee Alleges Political Vendetta

Reacting to the demolition, Abhishek Banerjee suggested that the action was politically motivated. In a post on X, he asserted that bulldozers would not silence his voice or weaken his resolve.

He said he would continue his political fight against what he described as anti-Bengal forces and declared that he would neither retreat nor back down.

The TMC also alleged that police personnel had been conducting surveillance outside Banerjee's residence. The party claimed that police visits to the area on Wednesday were connected to the planned removal of the structure.

These allegations have added to the political tension surrounding the civic operation.

BJP Minister Defends the Demolition Drive

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh defended the civic authorities' action, saying that people in the neighbourhood had faced difficulties because of the obstruction.

He argued that footpaths should remain accessible to pedestrians and said the rules should apply equally to everyone, including political leaders.

The BJP's defence of the operation and the TMC's allegations of political targeting have turned the demolition into another point of confrontation between the two parties.

November 7 Incident Added to Political Tensions

The latest development follows a dispute outside Banerjee's residence on November 7, during celebrations marking his birthday. The local TMC unit alleged that BJP workers had created trouble, while BJP leaders said the structure had prevented idols of Goddess Kali from being taken through the street.

The demolition has therefore taken place against the backdrop of several days of political disagreement over the structure, its original purpose and the accessibility of the footpath.

Political Significance of the Kolkata Demolition

The incident has attracted attention because it involves a prominent opposition leader's residence and comes amid a broader political confrontation in West Bengal.

While civic authorities have defended the action on the grounds of pedestrian access, the TMC has questioned the circumstances surrounding the demolition and linked it to political pressure.

The central issue remains the removal of a temporary structure from public footpath space, alongside competing claims about its original security purpose and the political context of the operation.