Kolkata, March 31 The BJP on Tuesday alleged that the convoy of its candidate in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district was attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters, a charge denied by the ruling party.
The TMC claimed that the attack was a result of the simmering anger among locals over the exclusion of names from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Police and security personnel rushed to the site as tension escalated following the incident.
"The BJP candidate has alleged that his convoy was attacked. We are looking into the allegation," a police official told reporters.
The principal opposition party in West Bengal claimed that TMC workers hurled stones at the cavalcade of Cooch Behar Dakshin Assembly seat candidate Rathindra Nath Bose while he was returning home from campaigning.
The TMC workers and supporters intercepted the convoy at the Sutkabari area, and vandalized at least one car, the BJP alleged.
"They attacked the convoy with sticks, bamboo poles, bricks, and stones. The windowpanes of one of the vehicles were smashed. One of our workers was seriously injured after being beaten up," a local BJP leader told a local news channel.
Bose alleged that the attack was carried out by TMC supporters in an attempt to intimidate BJP workers ahead of the elections.
"The ruling party is unable to accept the growing support for the BJP in the area. This was a planned attack," he said.
The Trinamool Congress, however, denied the allegation and claimed that the locals were angry over the exclusion of names from the voter list during SIR.
"There was resentment among local people as several names have allegedly been deleted from the electoral rolls. The BJP candidate had to face that anger. Trinamool Congress had no role in the incident," a local TMC leader said.
The incident comes amid rising political tensions in several parts of the state ahead of the Assembly elections. BJP leaders, in recent days, have claimed that some of their candidates and campaign teams have faced protests and resistance during campaigning in different districts.
