BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul faces 'go back' slogans, BJP-TMC workers clash in Asansol

Tension resurfaced in West Bengal’s Asansol South Assembly constituency on Wednesday after BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul faced protests during her public outreach campaign in the New Egara area. The situation escalated when slogans of “Go Back” were raised, leading to a clash between BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters.

The incident took place at Panda Bandhpara, where Paul was conducting a door-to-door campaign as part of her public contact drive. According to local sources, a group of TMC workers arrived at the spot and began raising “Go Back” slogans. Some also reportedly shouted “Joy Bangla”, triggering a counter-response from BJP supporters.

Soon, the verbal exchange turned into heated arguments, followed by pushing and jostling, which later escalated into a physical scuffle. The BJP alleged that a party worker was assaulted by TMC activists in the presence of the MLA. The incident created panic and tension in the locality for a considerable period.

Protesters claimed that Agnimitra Paul had not been visible in the area over the past five years and was now visiting only ahead of elections. They alleged that several promises made during the previous election campaign remained unfulfilled. They also said that local panchayat representatives had stayed connected with residents throughout the year, while the MLA and BJP workers had remained largely absent.

Responding to the protests, Agnimitra Paul accused TMC workers of deliberately disrupting her campaign. She said she would not be stopped from reaching out to the public and would continue her outreach efforts. Paul also criticised the state government, alleging that it had failed to fulfil multiple promises over the years and had fallen short in several development sectors. She further stated that basic civic works such as roads, drains and street lighting fall under the responsibility of the panchayat and local administration.

Meanwhile, TMC worker Suman Mandal accused the MLA of being inactive in the constituency for the last five years and appearing only during election time. He claimed that development work related to roads, drainage and drinking water facilities had been carried out through the efforts of local TMC leadership, and alleged that the BJP had failed to deliver on its past promises.

As the situation worsened, police and special forces arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Normalcy was restored later, but the incident has further intensified political tensions in the region.

With elections approaching, such incidents indicate that the political atmosphere in Asansol South is likely to remain heated in the coming days.

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