Opposition MLAs allege attacks amid formation of gram panchayat boards in West Bengal

Opposition MLAs in West Bengal allege attack amid efforts to form governing boards in gram panchayats. Tension reported in Bhangar, prohibitory orders imposed. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claims BJP MLA from Khanakul attacked for winning zilla parishad seat. Similar attempts to prevent Opposition candidates from forming boards in panchayats reported in Mandirbazar, Kukrahati, and Sagarpara.

Two MLAs of Opposition parties in West Bengal on Thursday alleged that they were attacked amid efforts to form governing boards in gram panchayats in the State, which has been hit by violence since the notification for the three-tier panchayat polls was issued on June 8.

Indian Secular Front MLA Nawsad Siddique alleged that stones were thrown at his residence at Furfura in Hooghly district during the formation of a panchayat board. His supporters blocked roads in Furfura, which falls under the Jangipara Assembly segment, and a large police contingent was deployed in the area to maintain law and order after stone pelting was reported.

Tension was also reported in the Bhangar Assembly constituency, represented by Mr. Siddique, during the formation of a panchayat board on Wednesday and prohibitory orders were imposed in the area.

State Transport Minister and Jangipara MLA Snehasis Chakraborty said the ruling Trinamool Congress has sufficient numbers in gram panchayats and there is no reason why it would want to disrupt the formation of boards. 

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also alleged that the BJP MLA from Khanakul constituency, Susanta Ghosh, and the vehicle in which he was travelling had been “brutally attacked”. “His fault was winning the zilla parishad seat. If an MLA is attacked, then what will be the condition of elected members of gram panchayats,” Mr. Adhikari said.

He said similar attempts to prevent Opposition candidates from forming boards in panchayats were made at Krishnapur in Mandirbazar block, Kukrahati in Sutahata block, and Sagarpara in Jalangi block.