Residents in and around Malda town were in for a surprise on Thursday to see posters put up against Abdur Rahim Boxi, Trinamul MLA and Malda district president of the party, seeking his removal for alleged corrupt practices.
The posters, which didn’t carry the name of the publishers, had Boxi’s photograph and said his removal from the president’s post was necessary to “save Trinamul in the district”.
In the posters, Boxi was also accused of taking bribes while promising jobs.
In recent times, this is the second time that such posters were put against a prominent Trinamul functionary of the district. About a month ago, posters were put up in Malda to demand the ouster of Sabina Yeasmin, a minister of state and a local MLA.
The posters were also circulated on social media, much to the embarrassment of Trinamul in the district.
Boxi, when contacted, denied the allegations.
“I am shocked. No one can raise such allegations against me before in my prolonged political career,” he said.
Boxi was an RSP MLA from 2011 to 2016 and joined Trinamul three years back. In 2021, he was elected as a Trinamul MLA and within a few months, put in the district president’s post.
A senior party leader, who didn’t want to be named, said it could be an anti-party activity by a member. “We have not filed any complaint with police but have initiated a probe on our own to find out who are all involved in it. If anybody associated with the party is found guilty, appropriate steps would be taken,” he said.
Some Trinamul leaders, however, suspect that the BJP had a hand in the posters.
“Recently, the Trinamul district president (Boxi) said that the party workers should intensify political activities so that the BJP leaders and workers find it tough to hit the streets. Soon after, posters were put up against him. This is significant,” said a leader.
BJP presidents of Malda north and south organisational districts, Ujjwal Dutta and Parthasarathi Ghosh, however, rubbished the allegations.
“We never indulge in such unethical practices. It is the fallout of Trinamul’s internal feud. They are blaming us to hide their embarrassment,” said Ghosh.