Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee frustrated after the 2024 Lok Sabha exit poll results.
Fact
Viral video dates back to 2006, shows TMC MLAs barging into the state Assembly premises.
A video purportedly showing West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee losing her cool has gone viral amid multiple exit polls predicting that the BJP will get more Lok Sabha seats than the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in the state. The results of the Lok Sabha elections, which were held in seven phases, will be announced on June 4, 2024.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker saw that the English subtitles generated by the help of an AI tool suggested that the West Bengal CM was not angry over the exit polls, but over an alleged police assault.
We then ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this Youtube video, dated April 18, 2011, headlined, “Mamata Banerjee and TMC Destroy West Bengal Parliament”. The viral excerpt can be seen from the 01:56 mark. A similar video can be seen here, confirming that the incident took place years before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
A relevant keyword search led us to multiple news reports from 2006 stating that the then opposition Trinamool Congress MLAs went on a rampage after party chief Mamata Banerjee was prevented from going to Singur.
“Trouble erupted when Mamata Banerjee barged into the assembly premises after she was prevented by police from going to Singur, 35 km from here, to lead a march against the handing over of land for Tata Motors’ small car project,” read a TOI report, dated November 30, 2006. Similar reports, featuring clips from the viral video, can be seen here and here, confirming that the incident is not related to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Newschecker learnt that Banerjee had later in 2020 denied the incidents of vandalism during a discussion in the assembly, which prompted CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty to post this video on Facebook in response.
Also Read: 2020 Video Shared As Alleged Houthi Attack On US Aircraft Carrier In Red Sea
Conclusion
Viral video claimed to show Mamata Banerjee angry after the exit poll results is actually of an old, unrelated incident when Banerjee and TMC MLAs stormed the assembly premises.
Result: False
Sources
Youtube video, April 18, 2011
Times of India report, November 30, 2006
NDTV report, November 30, 2006
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates.
Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
