The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of targeting its workers across West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, alleging that several party members have been forced to flee their homes due to political violence. The allegations were made by West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya during a press conference in Kolkata, where he claimed that attacks against party workers were already taking place even before the official announcement of election dates.

Addressing reporters, Bhattacharya alleged that BJP workers in several districts had come under attack from individuals associated with the ruling party. He claimed incidents of violence had been reported from areas including Bhimpur, Kolkata, Murshidabad, Tarakeswar, and North 24 Parganas. According to the BJP leader, these alleged attacks have created a climate of fear among opposition party members in the state.

“Criminals and Trinamool have become synonymous. Attacks were carried out on our party workers in Bhimpur, Kolkata, Murshidabad, Tarakeswar, and North 24 Parganas. The Trinamool has already started forcing BJP workers to flee their homes. New diktats are being announced in district after district,” Bhattacharya said while addressing the media. He further alleged that under the current state government, people from different sections of society were facing pressure.

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The BJP leader also claimed that the situation reflected a broader pattern of political intimidation ahead of the elections. According to him, party workers and supporters were being targeted in multiple districts in an attempt to weaken the opposition’s organisational presence on the ground before campaigning formally begins.

In response to the allegations, leaders of the Trinamool Congress have in the past dismissed similar claims made by the BJP, often accusing the opposition party of making politically motivated statements. The TMC has previously maintained that it does not support violence and has argued that such allegations are raised during election periods to influence public opinion.

The political atmosphere in West Bengal typically becomes more charged in the months leading up to Assembly elections, with parties frequently accusing each other of intimidation and misconduct. The Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the upcoming state Assembly polls in the coming months, after which the model code of conduct will come into force across the state.

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