Hooghly, 24 September (H.S.): A reported clash among BJP workers in Bansberia has brought an alleged internal dispute within the party into the open. The incident reportedly began over the presence of Chinsurah MLA Subir Nag at a religious programme in the Saptagram Assembly constituency.

According to allegations, BJP workers assaulted Srikanta Bhattacharya, a BJP member of two gram panchayats in Mogra and secretary of the Hooghly district Kisan Morcha. The incident reportedly took place on Station Road in Bansberia, where Subir Nag had gone to attend a religious programme.

Sources said that BJP workers, including Bhattacharya, reached the venue after learning about the MLA's presence. It was alleged that after Nag left the venue, some local BJP workers confronted Bhattacharya and others, questioning why they had gone to meet a legislator from another Assembly constituency. Bhattacharya was allegedly assaulted during the confrontation.

A separate allegation has also surfaced regarding the BJP's Bansberia party office, where a lock was reportedly put on the office amid an internal dispute involving party workers.

Speaking over the phone, Bhattacharya said he had been associated with the BJP for 15 years and did not expect to be attacked by his own party colleagues. He said that the emotional impact of the incident was greater for him than the physical injuries.

Chinsurah MLA Subir Nag said that nothing happened in his presence. He said he had attended the religious programme after receiving an invitation and that anyone could attend such a religious event. He added that MLAs from other constituencies also visit Chinsurah for various purposes and said there was no problem between them. Nag further said that if anyone was involved in such an incident, the party would take appropriate action.

According to sources, BJP leaders from Saptagram had also been invited to the religious programme, along with the Chinsurah MLA.

Saptagram MLA Swaraj Ghosh said that if an MLA visits another Assembly constituency, the MLA of that constituency should be informed. He said he had not been informed about Nag's visit. However, Ghosh said he did not know who had pushed or confronted whom and that he would look into the matter. He also said he had heard that there had been no major clash and that there was only a verbal altercation among some people.

BJP leader Rana Mukherjee, who has been accused of leading the alleged assault, said some BJP workers were behaving like Trinamool Congress workers and alleged that they did not believe in the BJP's ideology. He said that as the general secretary of the Bansberia mandal, he would take action against those allegedly creating internal conflict and would also inform the district president about the matter.

The reported incident has also led to renewed discussion about differences between the two BJP MLAs. Sources said speculation had earlier emerged after a photograph of former Trinamool Congress leader Debabrata Biswas with Chinsurah MLA Subir Nag surfaced following the Assembly election results, leading to speculation about his possible entry into the BJP. Neither of the two MLAs has publicly acknowledged any ongoing political dispute.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey