BJP-TMC workers clash at Suvendu Adhikari's Kolkata rally

The tiff between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) reached a new low when clashes broke out between party workers, followed by stone-pelting at a BJP rally in Kolkata on Monday (January 18).

The rally was attended by Union Minister Debasree Chaudhuri, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari, who has now joined the BJP.

The clashes were reported on a day when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared she would contest the assembly elections from Nandigram — Suvendu Adhikari’s stronghold.

At a rally in Nandigram on Monday, Mamata Banerjee said, “I request TMC general secretary Subrata Bakshi to let me fight the assembly elections from Nandigram instead of Bhabanipur. I promise I will give a good candidate [for Bhabanipur] but I want my name in Nandigram. I love Nandigram and it is difficult for me to control my emotions every time I think of the place.”

Also read: Mamata to contest from Nandigram; massive challenge for Suvendu

A few hours later, Suvendu Adhikari’s road show began in Kolkata. During the roadshow, TMC workers showed black flags which triggered the violence.

A video, which has gone viral on social media, shows stones pelted at the protesting TMC workers from the BJP side after which the TMC workers retaliated.

Mamata Banerjee’s desire to contest from Nandigram shows her intent to take the BJP head on.

Also read: TMC MP Satabdi Roy ends suspense with ‘I’m with Mamata’ climax

Without naming Adhikari, Mamata Banerjee said she does not think it is important to think of those joining rival camps. “Such leaders left TMC to protect the money they have looted in the last few years,” the Chief Minister said.

Nandigram saw largescale public protests and violence in 2007 against the then Communist government for creating a special economic zone and “grabbing public land” for corporates. Mamata Banerjee’s popularity soared has she actively took part in campaigns against the Left government, and her party seized power in West Bengal 2011, bringing curtains on the 34 years of Left rule.

Suvendu Adhikari was the poster boy of Mamata’s campaign then. He joined the BJP recently. Since then Suvendu has accused Mamata of having forgotten the people of Nandigram.