Kolkata, March 22 An altercation between supporters of the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP was reported in the Baranagar assembly constituency on Sunday, a day after clashes were reported between the two sides over alleged tearing of campaign posters and hoardings.
The latest incident occurred when a BJP rally was passing through the G L T Road area, two hours after a TMC roadshow, a senior police official said, adding that central forces managed to pacify both sides.
"We were peacefully standing by the roadside holding our flags when some of those in the BJP rally charged towards us and assaulted us. We want peace in our neighborhood. But BJP candidate Sajal Ghosh has brought in outsiders to foment trouble," one of the TMC workers alleged.
Ghosh, on the other hand, said, "Some TMC functionaries, holding their party flags, tried to disrupt our procession and made objectionable comments. Our supporters naturally protested and countered."
The TMC should be ready for this tit-for-tat treatment, Ghosh, a councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, said.
Led by candidates, the BJP and TMC took out rallies in Baranagar in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.
Ghosh, accompanied by Union minister and former BJP President Sukanta Majumdar and BJP's Maniktala candidate Tapas Roy, led the BJP rally which went through several parts of the constituency.
"You have elected the TMC in the past. Please give us the chance this time," he said.
Before Sunday evening's clash, TMC's sitting candidate Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and the party's MP Saugata Roy were at the forefront of the party's rally attended by thousands of supporters.
"Ghosh and other BJP leaders and activists are trying to turn the peaceful Baranagar into a turbulent zone. Whenever Sajal Ghosh visits Baranagar, he instigates trouble as he is sure of losing the seat. Today's overwhelming response in the rally testifies that people are with us," Bandyopadhyay claimed.
On Saturday, TMC and BJP activists clashed at Tobin Road crossing under the constituency in the presence of Ghosh and Bandyopadhyay.
Central forces and police personnel had a tough time controlling the situation as hundreds of supporters from both sides gathered and came face to face on both occasions.
Ghosh earlier alleged that TMC supporters led by Bandyopadhyay had torn posters and hoardings put up by the BJP for campaigning and tried to intimidate party supporters.