Bengal’s Berhampore tense as Congress candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury faces TMC protests
Kolkata: Tensions escalated in Berhampore in the poll-bound West Bengal on Saturday morning after Congress candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury allegedly faced physical obstruction from Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers during an election campaign.
Chowdhury, who is contesting from the Berhampore assembly seat in Murshidabad district of the state, was campaigning with party workers and supporters in the constituency when he allegedly faced resistance upon entering Ward No. 19 of the city.
According to the senior Congress leader and former MP, “The Trinamool Congress is systematically creating obstacles in the campaigning. They are scared of the election results; therefore, they have resorted to violence and intimidation.”
The situation quickly turned tense as slogans such as “go back” and “Joy Bangla” were raised against Chowdhury. A scuffle reportedly broke out between supporters of both parties before police intervened to bring the situation under control.
However, local Trinamool Congress councillor Bhishmadev Karmakar rejected the allegations and accused Chowdhury of provoking unrest.
“He is a traitor. He is trying to create chaos by bringing in outsiders. Local people have protested against him,” the TMC leader said.
Trinamool leaders further alleged that Chowdhury was attempting to disturb peace in the area. TMC leaders also alleged that the Congress candidate brought miscreants from outside with him, which led to tension in the locality.
Karmakar added, “Our procession was going on when Congress workers tried to attack us. If Adhir Chowdhury thinks he can regain lost ground by bringing people from outside, he is mistaken. The people here do not want him.”
Both parties are expected to approach the Election Commission with complaints over the incident.
The confrontation follows a similar episode on Friday night on Abdus Samad Road, where Trinamool workers allegedly raised “go back” slogans when Chowdhury was returning after visiting an ailing district Congress leader at a nursing home.
District Congress spokesperson Jayanta Das said, “Trinamool will get the third position in the election. They are doing this knowing their assured defeat.”
The Congress is contesting in all 294 Assembly seats independently in the Bengal elections, ending its previous alliance with the Left Front.
The party recently released its first list of 284 candidates, featuring senior leader Chowdhury from the Baharampur seat.