Kunal Ghosh Car Attack: TMC MLA Files Complaint in Hooghly

A West Bengal political row broke out on Feb. 19, 2026 after Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh said his car was attacked with stones and eggs while he was driving to a party meeting in Hooghly district. Ghosh, who also serves as the TMC’s national spokesperson, filed a written complaint with local police. The ruling party immediately blamed the BJP, while a BJP MLA in the area described the incident as a spontaneous expression of public anger.

According to Ghosh, the attack happened near a rural stretch in Hooghly when a group of people stopped his vehicle and began throwing stones and eggs. He said the car was damaged and that he feared for his safety. The MLA claimed that the assailants shouted slogans linked to the BJP and that the attack appeared planned rather than accidental.

Ghosh later reached the meeting venue and returned to Kolkata after the program. He lodged the complaint at the local police station, asking for an investigation and security cover in the area. In his written statement, he named no individual but requested action against unidentified persons. Police said they had received the complaint and were verifying the sequence of events before deciding the next step.

TMC leaders rallied around Ghosh within hours. Several party workers gathered at the police station, and senior district officials were called to review the situation. A TMC spokesperson said the attack was a clear attempt to intimidate party leaders ahead of local-level programs. The party also accused the BJP of trying to create disorder in Hooghly, a district that has seen fierce electoral battles in the past.

The BJP counter-narrative was entirely different. A local BJP MLA said Ghosh had been confronted by residents who were angry over his remarks about a recent development project. The MLA described the incident as “an outburst by the people,” not a party-backed operation. He also said the police should not turn a political complaint into a criminal case without a thorough probe.

These two versions reflect the deeper political atmosphere in West Bengal. The TMC and BJP have been locked in an aggressive cycle of accusations, especially in districts where the BJP has made inroads since the last assembly elections. Hooghly is one such area, with both parties trying to project dominance through rallies, counter-rallies, and public meetings. Every incident, however small, gets absorbed into that larger narrative.

Political observers say the timing matters. With state-level elections approaching, the TMC wants to show that it is under constant attack from a violent opposition. The BJP, on the other hand, wants to portray the TMC as an administration that cannot tolerate public criticism. In this case, the two parties are using the same incident to reinforce opposite messages to their voters.

The attack on Ghosh’s car is not an isolated case in Bengal’s recent political history. Similar episodes involving stone pelting, egg throwing, and physical scuffles have been reported in different districts during political campaigns. What makes this incident notable is the identity of the target: Ghosh is a prominent face of the TMC’s media strategy. He appears often on television and has been a sharp critic of the BJP’s leadership.

Because of his profile, the attack is likely to be debated extensively in the coming days. TMC supporters have already begun sharing pictures of the damaged car online, calling for strong action. BJP supporters are using the same images to claim that Ghosh is losing credibility among local residents. Both sides are using social media to steer public opinion before the police file any formal charges.

The police now face the difficult task of establishing facts in an environment where every statement is treated as a political position. The first step will be to examine the complaint and determine whether there is enough evidence to register an FIR. Investigators are expected to check CCTV footage and speak to witnesses near the location where the attack took place. If no clear evidence emerges, the case may remain a closed inquiry, which could further fuel the blame game.

Ghosh has said he will not withdraw the complaint. He also urged the Election Commission and the state administration to ensure safe movement for all political workers. His demand has been echoed by TMC leaders who say that party workers across West Bengal face similar threats. They have asked for a transparent process to prevent such incidents during the election season.

The BJP has not officially responded to Ghosh’s demand. The local BJP MLA, however, rejected the TMC’s version and challenged Ghosh to release the full video footage of the incident. The MLA said a short clip being circulated by TMC supporters does not show the full context. He also questioned why Ghosh did not stop and talk to the crowd if he believed the protest was peaceful.

This clash over narratives is unlikely to end with the police inquiry. In Bengal’s polarized climate, incidents like this become rallying points for both parties. The TMC will use the attack to highlight what it calls the BJP’s aggressive tactics. The BJP will use the same event to portray the TMC as paranoid and disconnected from public sentiment.

For ordinary voters in Hooghly, the immediate effect is uncertainty. Local residents said the roads near the incident site were blocked for some time after the attack. Commuters faced delays, and some shops in the area closed early as a precaution. A sense of unease was visible among people who do not want political clashes to disrupt daily life.

The coming days will determine whether this remains a law-and-order matter or becomes another episode in the long-running political battle in West Bengal. The complaint filed by Kunal Ghosh gives the police a formal basis to act. But the pressure from both sides will be intense, and every move by the administration will be scrutinized.

For now, the two parties are speaking to their own support bases. The TMC wants its workers to see the attack as proof of opposition aggression. The BJP wants its supporters to see the incident as evidence of public dissatisfaction. The truth likely lies somewhere in between, but in the current political climate, the facts may matter less than the interpretation.

Hooghly police have not yet announced whether an FIR will be registered. A senior officer said the complaint has been noted and that a preliminary inquiry is underway. Until a decision is made, the political arguments will continue to dominate the news cycle. Both the TMC and the BJP are preparing for the next round of statements, ensuring that the story does not fade quickly.

What is clear is that the episode has already achieved what both parties want: attention. Kunal Ghosh’s car attack has become a talking point across Bengal, with supporters and critics choosing sides. Whether it will lead to legal action or remain a political symbol depends on the evidence and the willingness of both sides to let the police do their work.