Kolkata, April 1 – Clashes erupted at the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters, 'Bidhan Bhavan', on Wednesday, as party workers clashed over the nomination of Rohan Mitra, the son of former state Congress president Somen Mitra. The situation quickly became chaotic within the building.
Tensions escalated in the afternoon, with at least one worker sustaining a head injury during the scuffle. There were also allegations of sexual harassment involving female workers. Central security forces were deployed to restore order.
Protesting workers claimed that the state Congress leadership had "sold" the tickets for the upcoming Assembly elections. Posters accusing the leadership of this were pasted on the walls of Vidhan Bhavan.
According to those protesting, resentment had been building among party workers who had been denied nominations. The immediate trigger was the nomination of Rohan Mitra from the Ballygunge constituency.
Protesters claimed that Zayed Hossain, a prominent South Kolkata Congress leader, was initially expected to be nominated from the seat, but his candidature was replaced at the last minute.
They further alleged that the change in candidate was the result of a monetary transaction, a charge that remains unverified.
On Wednesday, Zayed Hossain reached Vidhan Bhavan and demanded that Rohan Mitra's nomination be immediately cancelled, asserting that he was the rightful candidate for the Ballygunge seat.
He stated that a section of the party leadership had previously assured him that he would be nominated from the constituency, but he received no explanation for the last-minute change.
Party sources indicated that there had been concerns about unrest over candidate selection in several constituencies, which eventually led to open clashes at the headquarters.
During the unrest, furniture, including chairs and tables, was damaged.
Several people were injured during the scuffle, with one person sustaining a head injury. Leaders present at the scene were unable to control the situation, prompting the deployment of central forces.
Senior Congress leader Asit Mitra said: "I have never seen such a situation before!"
Even as the unrest unfolded at the party office, Rohan Mitra was campaigning in Ballygunge. Responding to questions from the media, he said, "I am also aware of the uproar. I cannot say who or what is causing the uproar. I am campaigning wherever the party has nominated me."