The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reported an incident where one of their members was killed and seven others sustained injuries during a confrontation with supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the East Midnapore district of West Bengal. The TMC has countered this claim by suggesting that the violence resulted from an internal dispute within the BJP.
This incident comes as the Tamluk and Kanthi Lok Sabha seats in East Midnapore are gearing up for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for Saturday.
According to BJP leaders, the altercation occurred early on Thursday at a polling station when TMC supporters allegedly attacked them with rods and other sharp objects. The deceased BJP worker has been identified as Rathibala Ari, with at least two others reported to have suffered severe injuries.
BJP leader Subhendu Adhikari took to X to accuse TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee of instigating the attack, which he attributed to the TMC’s fear of losing the election. Adhikari vowed that the BJP would pursue legal action and respond through democratic means.
In retaliation, BJP supporters blocked roads in Nandigram, demanding the arrest of those behind the attack.
However, TMC leader Sheikh Sufiyan suggested that the violence resulted from internal conflicts within the BJP, describing it as a clash between the party’s longstanding members and newer recruits. He asserted that the BJP attempted to shift the blame onto the TMC.