Two Trinamul Congress councillors at the Raiganj municipality have made social media posts, asking those who voted for the BJP in the Assembly polls not to approach them for any help.
Kalpita Majumder and Prosenjit Sarkar made the controversial posts after the BJP had won the Raiganj Assembly seat for the first time.
“The civic body (run by Trinamul) provided all possible services to people and we stood with them in their hour of need. A series of developmental works has been carried out by the state government in Raiganj and across North Dinajpur district as a whole. Even then, a large section of people here supported the BJP. That is why I have made the post, asking those who voted for the BJP not to approach me for any help,” said Sarkar.
In a similar manner, Majumder, who is also a prominent woman Trinamul leader of the town, wrote a post in the social media, asking the “voters of BJP” not to meet any elected representative, leader or worker of Trinamul for any help.
In North Dinajpur, Trinamul has won seven of nine Assembly seats — its best ever performance — but the Raiganj (district headquarter) and the neighbouring Kaliyaganj seats have gone to the BJP.
Kalpita Majumder Kousik Sen
Sarkar, sources said, not only made the post but allegedly also refused to help an elderly woman who had turned up at his doorstep on Wednesday for getting food grains under the state government’s general scheme.
“He instead asked me to visit the BJP office near a cinema hall,” said Manju Roy.
The posts and Sarkar’s alleged misbehaviour prompted the BJP to raise questions.
“Being elected representatives, they cannot discriminate against people. It is a blatant violation of the Constitution. We apprehend more common people, particularly those who are economically weak, will have to face such biases and harassment in the coming days. Trinamul leaders have become vindictive after the election results came out. The administration and civic authorities should intervene,” said Basudeb Sarkar, the district BJP president.
Kanaialal Agarwala, the district Trinamul chief who contested from the Raiganj seat, was behind the BJP candidate by 9,945 votes.
“The Trinamul leadership has never expected such a result as the party has councillors in all 27 wards of the town,” said a source.
District Trinamul leaders aren’t, however, happy with the councillors’ posts.
Arindam Sarkar, the vice-chairman of Raiganj municipality, said a directive had already been given to leaders to refrain from such post.
“They have done it out of disappointment as the BJP won the Raiganj seat despite our services and efforts. But we do not endorse such posts. The civic body as well as the party asked councillors to be cautious. The councillors should never act in a biased manner,” said Sarkar.