Workers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have reportedly seized offices of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of West Bengal in at least six locations in the latter’s stronghold in East Midnapore district. Offices were allegedly ransacked and TMC’s flags were broken before BJP workers raised theirs.
TMC supporters blocked roads with wooden logs in response and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. They alleged police inaction and diligence.
“BJP workers on bicycles arrived [Friday] late and looted at least six of our party’s offices in Khejuri. Our flags were broken and documents caught fire. Then they occupied the party offices. The police did nothing, ”said Sheik Naushad, a local TMC leader in Khejuri.
The BJP refuted the allegations, saying that those were BJP’s offices and the TMC is making unsubstantiated allegations so that its workers may be implicated in bogus cases.
“Those were not TMC party offices. The people who built the party offices now support the BJP. That is why they took down the TMC flag and raised the BJP flag, ”said Suman Das, local BJP leader.
The TMC allegations came hours after Suvendu Adhikari resigned from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, further widening her gap with the ruling party.
“The BJP attack on the TMC party offices in East Midnapore reveals everything. More than a TMC stronghold, it is a stronghold of the Adhikari family: Suvendu Ahikari, his father Sishir Adhikari and his brother Dibyendu Adhikari, both TMC MPs from the East Midnapore district. Of the assembly’s 16 constituencies in East Midnapore, the TMC won 13 in 2016, while the left-wing parties took the rest, ”said a TMC leader.
Suvendu Adhikari, who has been issuing a veiled challenge to TMC’s leadership for the past few days, resigned from the cabinet on Friday, adding to speculation that joining the BJP is only a matter of time.
Adhikari was not available for comment.
“Our leaders are already in contact with some TMC leaders. BJP MP Arjun Singh has said that at least five TMC MPs would soon resign from the party. He has named Adhikari. Maybe it’s a touch, ”said Dilip Ghosh, chairman of the BJP’s Bengal unit.
The BJP, which garnered around four percent of the vote share in the 2011 assembly elections, increased its vote share to around 10% in 2016. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party made progress impressive by winning 18 out of 42 seats and winning about 40% of the vote.
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