West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Political tensions escalated sharply in Baidyabati in West Bengal’s Hooghly district after a violent clash between supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Trinamool Congress left a BJP worker injured and hospitalised. The confrontation, which reportedly took place late on Friday night in the Sheoraphuli area under Ward No. 20 of the Baidyabati Municipality, has intensified the atmosphere ahead of upcoming elections.

According to BJP leaders, several party workers had gone to the Gobinda Colony area near Delhi Road to inspect complaints about toxic fumes allegedly emanating from a nearby chemical factory. They claimed that while they were looking into the issue, they were confronted by Ward No. 20 TMC councillor Haripada Pal and his supporters. The situation quickly deteriorated into a scuffle, during which BJP workers were allegedly assaulted. One of them sustained a severe injury to his nose, which was reportedly fractured in the altercation.

The injured worker was immediately taken to Shrirampur Walsh Hospital, where he remains under treatment. A formal complaint has been lodged at the local police station against the councillor, accusing him not only of physical assault but also of issuing threats, including alleged warnings of violence. Local BJP leader Amanish Iyer claimed that the councillor had used intimidating language and threatened dire consequences. He expressed concern that such incidents were unprecedented in Sheoraphuli and vowed that his party would pursue the matter until justice was served.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the attack was unprovoked and politically motivated. Party members stated that their workers were merely responding to public concerns about environmental safety when they were targeted. They further claimed that the incident reflects growing intolerance and political aggression in the region as electoral contests draw nearer.

The All India Trinamool Congress has firmly denied the allegations. Councillor Haripada Pal rejected the claims of assault and instead accused BJP workers of instigating the conflict. According to him, he rushed to the spot after hearing about a disturbance and found BJP supporters engaged in a heated exchange with local residents. He alleged that BJP workers had pasted their posters over wall writings that were in support of a TMC Member of Parliament in the Radha Gobinda Colony area. When asked to remove the posters, they allegedly refused, leading to pushing and shoving between the two groups.

Pal insisted that the incident has been misrepresented and politicized. He claimed that the scuffle was a spontaneous outcome of tensions over wall space and denied personally assaulting anyone. TMC leaders in the locality have echoed this stance, arguing that BJP activists were attempting to create unrest and gain political mileage by escalating a minor dispute.

The clash has heightened anxiety among residents of Baidyabati, who fear that political rivalries may intensify further as elections approach. Local authorities have begun an investigation into the incident, gathering statements from both sides and reviewing any available evidence. Police officials have urged restraint and appealed to political parties to maintain peace and allow the inquiry to proceed without interference.

This episode underscores the increasingly charged political environment in parts of West Bengal, where disputes over posters, wall writings and local grievances can quickly spiral into confrontations. While the injured BJP worker continues to receive medical care, the broader focus now rests on whether the investigation will establish accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.

As both parties trade accusations and prepare for possible legal and political fallout, Baidyabati remains on edge. The coming days are likely to determine whether this clash remains an isolated incident or becomes a flashpoint in the intensifying political battle in Hooghly district.