Mamata Banerjee's Injury Narrative Shifts Amid 'Push from Behind' Controversy

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister, was recovering at home on Thursday night after suffering a gash to her forehead. The "push from behind" story was quickly disregarded, and no police complaints were made.

A doctor mentioned that a patient might have "a sensation of a push," an idea that Trinamul instantly seized upon.

Senior police officers reported that as of late Friday night, they had not received any complaints claiming that a push was the reason behind the chief minister's Thursday night collapse at home.

"Unless the victim or a witness lodges a formal complaint, the police are unable to file a formal complaint under IPC Section 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt)," an official stated.

On Thursday night, after Mamata was rushed to SSKM Hospital for sutures after suffering injuries to her nose and forehead from a fall, a relative had allegedly been given a "push from behind" in front of reporters.

The SSKM director, Dr. Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, had released a statement not long before the relative's accusation, in which he too alluded to a "push from behind" and put the cat among the pigeons. Bandopadhyay claimed to have been “misinterpreted” on Friday.

Bandopadhyay had stated on Thursday that "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reported to our hospital at around 7.30pm, with a history of fall, within the vicinity of her home, due to some push from behind."

Workers of the TMC pray for Mamata Banerjee, the chief of the party and the chief minister of West Bengal, to recover quickly.
Workers of the TMC pray for Mamata Banerjee, the chief of the party and the chief minister of West Bengal, to recover quickly.
PTI image.
The part about the "push from behind" in the statement went viral on social media in a matter of minutes, sparked discussion in the mainstream media, and gave rise to poll-season conspiracy theories.

On Friday, Bandyopadhyay said that he had merely intended for Mamata to have felt like she might have been given a "push."

"I felt like someone was pushing me from behind, and that's what made me collapse. It is our responsibility to treat, and we have. What I said last night was misunderstood, the SSKM director informed reporters.

"It's likely that the chief minister attempted to claim that she felt pushed from behind during the collapse. That in no way suggests that she was pushed.

Shashi Panja, the industry minister and a doctor, was chosen by Trinamul to support the "sensation of a push" idea. Panja agreed with Bandopadhyay's explanation.

The odd detail that has turned into a talking topic is that she was pushed by someone. Nothing akin to this took place. It's really evident, Panja remarked.

"I work as a doctor as well. We recognize that there was no physical contact. There are moments when a person has physical discomfort. It's possible for them to trip over that discomfort, she continued.

"There might have been a sudden incident of tripping as well for that, which led to her falling. She then suffered severe injuries. But this was kind of uncomfortable because of that bizarre theory, or what it suggests. That is all untrue.

Officially, the CPM, Congress, and BJP had not said much about Mamata's injuries other than to wish her well in a brief statement. This may have been due to their recalling how ineffective it had been to make fun of her leg ailment in advance of the 2021 Assembly elections.

On the other hand, a few remarks appeared to be skeptical. One of them was from former state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, MP for Midnapore.

This is made up of numerous components. Many people are requesting explanations. In this state, she is the most important individual. How in her own room could she have hurt herself that badly? It had to be thoroughly looked into," Ghosh stated early on Friday morning.

Subsequently, Suvendu Adhikari, the MLA for the BJP in Nandigram, was charged with making fun of Mamata during a rally in Khejuri.

A man who appeared to be Adhikari was heard saying in a video tape that Trinamul was circulating: "Trinamul is going through a difficult time." They had been plummeting and their brains are spinning.

Finance minister and head of the Trinamul women's wing Chandrima Bhattacharya charged Adhikari of misogyny.

Quoted from a statement on X by the party, "attacking the only female CM is not just despicable – it's a display of contemptible misogyny." Bhattacharya was the target of the attack.

"The despicable attack by @SuvenduWB on Smt. @MamataOfficial during her medical treatment." His remarks are blatantly immoral and full of desperation. He ought to apologize sincerely right now.

Mamata is thought to have fallen and struck her forehead on something sharp, most likely a display. According to the physicians, she appears to have escaped serious injury except from cuts on her nose and forehead.

Along with other top officers, Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal paid Mamata a visit at her residence on Friday morning, but they did not have a meeting.

According to sources, there are now more security checks and a tighter security ring surrounding the Kalighat residence for arriving vehicles.

They also said that Mamata spent the majority of the day receiving medical attention for her wounds in her bedroom. She replied to the get-well wishes from prominent national politicians—including Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi—via posts on X.

"The chief minister is in a clinically stable state," an SSKM Hospital senior physician declared.

Plans had been arranged for Mamata to visit and get checked out on Friday afternoon at SSKM's Woodburn Ward. But she never showed up. Rather, a medical team visited her residence.

The chief minister has been recommended by doctors to take a few days off. Her vital signs will be observed on a frequent basis.

After receiving clearance from a medical team, she is anticipated to return to campaigning, according to sources within the health department.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.