India, May 31 -- Former Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee claimed on late Saturday night that her nephew Abhishek Banerjee "could have died" in the attack he faced "if not for his helmet".

Abhishek, a TMC MP, was allegedly assaulted by workers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his visit to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal on Saturday. He had gone to Sonarpur to meet the family members of a TMC worker, Sanju Karmakar, who was allegedly killed in post-poll clashes.

Abhishek was taken to a private hospital after complaining of pain in his neck and back after the alleged attack. The hospital allotted him a bed in its Intensive Therapy Unit and said that the injuries...