A violent clash between supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district on Thursday resulted in the death of a BJP worker and injuries to seven others. The BJP has accused TMC supporters of the attack, while the TMC claims BJP infighting is to blame.
As East Midnapore gears up for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, tensions are high. The Tamluk and Kanthi constituencies are key battlegrounds in this penultimate phase. BJP leaders allege that their workers were attacked early Thursday morning at a booth by TMC supporters wielding rods and sharp weapons. The deceased has been identified as Rathibala Ari, and at least two other BJP workers are seriously injured.
BJP leader Subhendu Adhikari took to social media to accuse TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee of inciting the violence. Adhikari claimed that Banerjee’s provocative statements on Wednesday led to the attack. “This is the direct result of the provocation which [chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s] nephew [Abhishek] made yesterday. They [TMC] have orchestrated this barbaric murder knowing that defeat is imminent. The BJP will see the end of it. Revenge will be taken legally and a befitting reply will be given democratically,” Adhikari stated.
In response to the incident, BJP workers blocked roads in Nandigram, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. The protest has intensified the already charged political atmosphere as the elections approach.
Conversely, TMC leader Sheikh Sufiyan dismissed the BJP’s allegations, attributing the clash to internal BJP disputes. “It is a factional feud between the BJP’s old guard and new entrants. They fought among themselves and are now trying to malign the TMC,” Sufiyan asserted.
The incident underscores the volatile political climate in West Bengal as parties gear up for the crucial Lok Sabha elections. With both sides trading accusations, the focus now shifts to the upcoming polls and the legal investigations that are likely to follow this tragic event.
