Tension escalated on the last day of a high-voltage campaign for Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, ahead of the bypolls scheduled on September 30, as Trinamool Congress supporters allegedly attacked BJP leader Dilip Ghosh while he was campaigning for Priyanka Tibrewal, reported India Today.
According to reports, the incident took place near JaduBabur Bazar (Jadu Babu's Market) in Bhabanipur area where Ghosh's way was blocked by some Trinamool Congress supporters and he was pushed to the side of the road. The supporters started giving slogan "Joy Bangla" - a slogan coined by Mamata Banerjee to counter BJP's "Jai Shri Ram" - and shouted at him to go back.
There was a scuffle between personal security guards of Ghosh and the Trinamool Congress supporters and the guards were seen pointing their guns to disperse the crowd.
Ghosh was cordoned off and taken away from the place. One BJP supporter was wounded in the scuffle.
After the incident, while speaking to the media, Ghosh said, "Look this is the situation of West Bengal. They will not allow anyone to campaign even. I was pushed and beaten because I came here to campaign in favour of our candidate. There is no democracy in the state. We shall give a formal complaint".
"We touch the feet of an aged person. This is the culture of Bengal. Forget about anything. See the age of Dilip Ghosh. He is being kicked! Is it the culture of the state? I have not learnt these things. When Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee go to Delhi we can also block his way and give 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan. Have we done this?," West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar was quoted as saying by IANS.
"They are not only killing democracy; they are destroying the culture of the state. The people of Bengal will throw away this proud woman," he added.
On Monday, the BJP had planned an elaborate campaign in the Bhabanipur constituency, where BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal is pitted against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the bypolls.
On the last day of campaigning BJP is set to run extensive campaigns across the eight wards of Bhabanipur. Party sources told ANI that 80 BJP leaders will campaign across 80 locations of the Bhabanipur constituency .
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, party national vice-president Dilip Ghosh, party MPs Debasree Chaudhari, Arjun Singh and Swapan Dasgupta are among the leaders who will participate in the massive campaign.
Bhabanipur bypoll has become a prestige battle for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is presently not an MLA.
Notably, Mamata Banerjee was defeated by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in the Nandigram constituency in the Assembly elections held earlier this year.
Following this, the Bhabanipur Assembly seat was vacated by the West Bengal Agriculture Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay in May, making way for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to contest from Bhabanipur seat as a move to continue to hold her post.
Bypolls will be held in Bhabanipur on September 30 and results will be declared by October 3.
(With inputs from IANS and ANI)
