Hooghly, 31 May (H.S.): Political tensions escalated in Hooghly district on Sunday after a confrontation between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) outside Chanditala Police Station left TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee injured.

The TMC had organized a deputation programme at the police station to protest the arrest of several party leaders and workers. During the programme, tensions flared between supporters of the two parties, leading to a heated confrontation.

According to eyewitnesses, sloganeering began between rival groups gathered outside the police station. TMC alleged that BJP workers raised “chor-chor” (thief-thief) slogans targeting its supporters, which further aggravated the situation. Police and central forces reportedly intervened to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.

Following the incident, Kalyan Banerjee, the TMC MP from Serampore, accused BJP workers of attacking him. He claimed that he was heading towards the venue alone when some object was hurled at him near the Chanditala crossing.

“I had not brought anyone with me. I was walking alone towards the programme venue when BJP workers threw something at me. I do not know whether it was a deuce ball or some other object, but my head started bleeding,” Banerjee alleged.

Speaking emotionally after the incident, he said, “I do not have the strength to speak much. Let the people of Chanditala decide whether attacking an MP is justified. This is not public outrage. A few people wearing saffron headbands were assaulting TMC workers.”

Banerjee further alleged that BJP supporters have been targeting TMC workers across the state. He also claimed that a woman he met on the way to the venue told him that BJP activists had assaulted TMC supporters in the area.

However, the BJP strongly denied all allegations. Serampore BJP district president Suman Ghosh said the party had no connection with the incident and described it as a manifestation of public anger.

“This incident has nothing to do with the BJP. The people have already rejected the Trinamool Congress. If someone insults the public mandate and uses derogatory language against the Chief Minister, people will naturally react. Kalyan Banerjee has become a victim of public outrage, and the BJP has no role in it,” Ghosh said.

The incident comes a day after alleged unrest involving TMC National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur. With two TMC MPs reportedly facing attacks on consecutive days, the political confrontation between the ruling party and the BJP has intensified further.

The situation in Chanditala is currently reported to be under control, with police maintaining a strong presence in the area.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey