Party workers’ scuffle mars TMC’s new outreach programme
The Hindu
A mass outreach programme of the Trinamool Congress for selecting candidates for panchayat polls on Tuesday was marred by incidents of party supporters fighting and tearing ballot papers.
A mass outreach programme of the Trinamool Congress for selecting candidates for panchayat polls on Tuesday was marred by incidents of party supporters fighting and tearing ballot papers.
Soon after Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee left after making a speech at Gosaimari in Cooch Behar district, party supporters started fighting over ballot papers. Trinamool supporters were seen pushing one another trying to reach the ballot box.
The ballot box was destroyed and the leaders present at the venue expressed their disappointment. Similar pandemonium during the selection of nominees for the panchayat polls was observed at Mathabhanga and Sahebganj in Cooch Behar district. Mr. Banerjee started his two-month outreach programme from Cooch Behar on April 25.
Upset with the public spat and the factionalism in the party, Mr. Banerjee directed that the process be held once again on Wednesday. He asked for the support of the administration to make the exercise successful.
Political observers feel that one of the reasons why such an outreach programme has been undertaken is to contain factionalism in the party and streamline the process of giving tickets for panchayat polls. In the past, intra-party feuds have resulted in violence and often death of Trinamool supporters.
Meanwhile, while starting the outreach programme, Mr. Banerjee said the next Lok Sabha election would be held on the issue of development and not on the “communal” narrative propagated by the BJP.
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