The Jalpaiguri district committee of the Trinamul Congress has expelled a leader based in Mohitnagar, which is on the outskirts of the district headquarters, following allegations from a transporter that the leader was trying to extort money from him.
The expulsion has also brought to the surface the difference between two Trinamul leaders in the district.
Sandeep Agarwal runs SRG Transport, a company that provides trucks to ferry cement from a factory in Mohitnagar.
“A few days ago, Ratnajit Nandi, the Trinamul leader who also claims to represent a trade union of the party, demanded Rs two lakh from me. When I refused, he threatened me and said he would close down my office. I have filed a complaint at Kotwali police station and feel insecure,” said Agarwal.
Some other transporters in Mohitnagar alleged that Nandi had printed banners and receipts in the name of Mohitnagar Goods Transport Welfare Association which carried photos of Krisha Das, the Jalpaiguri district president of SC, ST & OBC Cell of the party.
“He would extort money from us regularly and even resort to highhandedness. Most of us would pay him to avoid any disruption in the movement of our trucks but this time, he went too far, which made the transporter (Agarwal) file a police complaint against him,” said a transporter.
Das was quick to react and announced that Nandi had been expelled from the party. He also denied that Nandi used to act at his behest. “I had no idea that some people were using my name to collect money,” said Das.
Nandi could not be contacted.
The allegation comes shortly after Tapan Dey, the Jalpaiguri district INTTUC president, had alleged that Das, who runs the Trinamul Industrial Estate Workers’ Union in Raninagar, which is also on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri, had been extorting money from private entrepreneurs having industrial units on the estate.
Das, however, had brushed aside the charge.
On Wednesday, the INTTUC district president, Dey, said: “None of these unions are affiliated to the INTTUC. We had also received such complaints earlier and decided to float new unions. Those who had indulged in such corrupt practices or had encouraged such people will not be included in these unions. If required, the party will take stringent steps against them.”
Mahua Gope, the district Trinamul president, said: “We have information that some people are trying to make money by using Trinamul’s name and the party flag. We will stop all such practices."