Mamata Banerjee clarifies fall at home was due to a ‘sensation of push’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee‘s recent fall at her Kalighat residence sparked speculation and confusion after the director of the state-run SSKM Hospital initially suggested it was caused by “some push from behind.” However, clarifying his statement, the director, Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, stated that he meant Banerjee may have felt “a sensation of push,” leading to the fall.

“This is a sensation of pushing from behind which led to the fall (of CM Banerjee). Our job is to treat and we have done that. There was a misinterpretation of what I said last evening,” Bandyopadhyay said in a PTI.

Banerjee, 69, sustained injuries including a deep gash on her forehead and a cut on her nose during the incident on Thursday evening.

Around 7:30 pm, the Chief Minister of Bengal was admitted to the Woodburn Ward of the hospital. Medical professionals addressed the bleeding and subsequently treated the wound on her forehead with three stitches, while the cut on her nose required only one stitch. Following the recommendations of a multidisciplinary medical team, she underwent various procedures including a CT scan and an MRI. By 9:45 pm, she was discharged and returned home.

“We wanted to find out whether the fall was an accident or she suffered any fluctuation in blood pressure,” a health department official told.

“The CM’s health condition is stable. She had a good sleep in the night as senior doctors kept a close watch on her throughout the period. There will be another assessment of her condition,” the official told PTI on Friday.Asked about the speculations over the CM’s fall, a police officer told PTI, “As of now, there has been no complaint lodged in connection with her fall. We have increased the security around the CM’s residence.”Bandypadhyay’s “push from behind” theory sparked large-scale confusion and speculations over the cause of the Trinamool Congress supremo’s fall.

Medical Treatment and Current Condition
Banerjee received medical treatment at SSKM Hospital, where she underwent three stitches on her forehead and one on her nose. After necessary tests, including brain imaging and ECG, she was discharged. Doctors have advised her bed rest, and she is reported to be clinically stable.

Speculation and Security Measures
The director’s initial statement about the cause of Banerjee’s fall triggered speculations about the incident. However, the police confirmed that no complaint has been lodged, and security around Banerjee’s residence has been increased. She is under a “Z+ category” security cover, with a special team of officers looking after her security.

“I wasn’t present but spoke to my wife, who accompanied Didi to SSKM Hospital,” Kajari’s husband Kartik Banerjee said.

Another family member said Mamata “fell face first and hit the sharp edge of a small cabinet”.

On Thursday evening, the CM attended an event near south Kolkata’s Gariahat, not far from her Kalighat home, to unveil the statue of the late Trinamool leader Subrata Mukherjee. Soon after returning home, she fell and injured herself.

PM Narendra Modi wrote Mamata a get-well message on X. “I pray for a quick recovery and the best health for Mamata Didi,” he posted.

Earlier in March 2021, Banerjee suffered a ligament injury in Nandigram while campaigning for the assembly elections. She hit the campaign trail in a wheelchair with a plastered leg.

Last June, the Bengal CM suffered another injury in her left knee and hip during an emergency helicopter landing at the Sevoke airbase in North Bengal. She was brought to SSKM Hospital, where doctors found fluid accumulation in her left knee joint and a ligament injury in the left hip joint.

The Bengal CM had to restrict her movement for several days after that and went through a rehabilitation regimen. The last time she visited the hospital for that injury was in September 2023.

Despite the initial confusion and speculation, Banerjee’s clarification about the nature of her fall provides some clarity on the incident. Her current stable condition and medical treatment suggest a positive outlook for her recovery.