Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday made an unusual court appearance at the Calcutta High Court, dressed in an advocate’s gown, in connection with a petition linked to allegations of violence following the recent Assembly elections.

The matter was initiated by Shirshanya Bandopadhyay, son of senior Trinamool Congress leader and lawyer Kalyan Bandopadhyay. The plea concerns reported attacks on political activists and party establishments after the election outcome, which ended the TMC’s 15-year tenure and brought the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power in the state.

Addressing the bench, Banerjee said it was her first time arguing a case before the High Court and expressed respect for the judiciary. She urged the court to intervene urgently to ensure safety for citizens allegedly affected by the unrest.

During her submissions, she cited video footage and claimed that victims included women, children and members of minority communities. She also handed over a list of ten individuals she alleged had lost their lives in the violence.

Banerjee further alleged that a Scheduled Caste household, including a 92-year-old widow, had been forced out of their home. She described instances of vandalism and property damage impacting families across social and religious backgrounds.

Claiming that six of the ten deceased were Hindus, she questioned law enforcement’s response and alleged that police were refusing to register First Information Reports in certain cases. She also raised concerns about threats against young girls and described what she termed a deteriorating law-and-order situation across several districts.

Calling for immediate judicial protection for residents, Banerjee said the state should not be turned into what she described as a “bulldozer state” and pressed authorities to prevent further violence rather than respond after incidents occur.

Earlier, the Trinamool Congress had posted on social media that Banerjee’s personal appearance in court demonstrated her resolve to stand with the people of Bengal. The party praised her commitment to justice and constitutional principles, while criticising what it called divisive politics by the BJP.

The case is still under judicial review and comes at a sensitive time for the TMC, which is grappling with internal challenges and sharp criticism after its electoral defeat.

Since the declaration of results on May 4, several parts of West Bengal have reported clashes, vandalism, crude bomb incidents and retaliatory attacks, with both the BJP and the TMC accusing each other of instigating violence.

Among the most prominent incidents was the killing of Chandranath Rath, described as a close associate of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot by unidentified attackers on May 6, further escalating political tensions in the state.