Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on April 4 alleged that he was targeted during a poll campaign event in Berhampore, raising fresh concerns over political violence in West Bengal amid the ongoing assembly elections.
According to Chowdhury, the incident occurred during a scheduled campaign programme near BT College, which had prior approval from the Election Commission of India. He claimed that armed miscreants attempted to disrupt the rally and create chaos.
In a statement issued by his office, the Congress leader alleged that supporters of the All India Trinamool Congress were behind the attack. The statement claimed that individuals carrying TMC flags engaged in aggressive behaviour, heckled Congress workers, and attempted to physically target Chowdhury.
“A group of TMC miscreants resorted to intimidation and provocation with clear intent to disrupt the campaign and attack our candidate,” the statement said.
The Congress further alleged that such disruptions were not isolated, but occurred at multiple points along the campaign route.
Chowdhury stated that he had earlier alerted the administration about potential threats during his campaign. However, he alleged that no adequate preventive measures were taken, leading to the incident.
The Congress leader, who is contesting from his stronghold Berhampore, expressed concern over the apparent lapse in security despite prior warnings.
The Congress has termed the incident a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct, arguing that such acts undermine the integrity of the electoral process. The party claimed that repeated attempts were made to obstruct the rally and intimidate workers, creating an atmosphere of fear among voters.
The incident has once again brought the spotlight on election-related violence in the state, a recurring concern during poll seasons in West Bengal.
Chowdhury’s office has called for immediate legal action against those involved in the alleged attack.
The party has urged authorities to ensure that such incidents do not affect the conduct of free and fair elections.
The allegations come at a time when the political contest in West Bengal is intensifying, with multiple parties vying for electoral ground. Incidents like these are likely to further escalate tensions between the Congress and the ruling TMC.
