Kolkata, 05 March (H.S.) : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday launched its Parivartan Yatra in West Bengal with prayers at the Kalyaneshwari Temple ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, even as reports of an alleged attack on the rally surfaced from the Barabani area of Asansol.

The yatra commenced with rituals at the temple in West Burdwan district in the presence of several party leaders and supporters. Among those present were district president Devtanu Bhattacharya, Kulti MLA Dr Ajay Poddar, Asansol South MLA Agnimitra Paul, and party leaders Krishnendu Mukherjee and Krishna Prasad.

District president Devtanu Bhattacharya said the Parivartan Yatra began with prayers at Kalyaneshwari Temple in West Burdwan and would cover four districts — West Burdwan, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur. On Thursday, the yatra was scheduled to pass through Gorandi village in the Barabani Assembly segment before proceeding to Jamuria and Andal. From Andal, it would move through the Raniganj Assembly constituency and halt for the night at Bari Maidan in the Asansol South Assembly constituency.

On Friday morning, the yatra is set to resume from Bhagat Singh More and proceed through the Kulti Assembly segment before heading towards Purulia district.

Meanwhile, tensions flared in the Barabani area of Asansol, where the BJP alleged that its Parivartan Yatra was attacked. According to information received, as the rally reached Barabani after starting from Kalyaneshwari for its four-district tour, workers of the All India Trinamool Congress allegedly attacked the procession in the presence of police personnel. Clashes reportedly broke out between supporters of both parties, leaving several people injured.

Central forces were rushed to the spot after the incident was reported and attempted to bring the situation under control. A heavy police deployment has been made in the area to prevent further escalation.

The BJP has strongly protested the alleged repeated attacks on its Parivartan Yatra and warned of a wider agitation, stating that such incidents would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh