Trinamul Congress leaders got into an altercation with the personnel of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) monitoring team for removing the party’s election campaign material from allegedly unauthorised sites in the Old Malda municipality area on Monday.

Kartick Ghosh, the chairman of the Trinamul-run civic body, and the party’s councillors allegedly tried to stop the flying squad team (FST) of the MCC cell from removing the flags, festoons and banners. Trinamul has fielded Prasun Banerjee, a retired IPS officer, in the Malda North constituency.

Later, a delegation of Trinamul leaders led by district general secretary Prasenjit Das went to the Old Malda block development office and submitted a complaint, seeking steps against the MCC team and demanding uniform action against all political parties.

“The MCC team removed Trinamul’s flags, festoons and banners, although we did not violate the MCC. However, similar items put by the BJP were not taken off,” said Das.

Sources said a section of Trinamul workers who had voiced protests even told the MCC team that they should better understand that the party was in power in Bengal.

“The team members were told they should remember that they are state government employees. Such activities might land them in problem, the Trinamul workers told them,” said a source.

The MCC officials declined comments on the complaint.

“We are looking into the complaint. The MCC team functions according to a set of guidelines and there is no question of being biased,” said a senior official of the district administration.

Gopal Chandra Saha, the BJP MLA of Malda, slammed Trinamul for allegedly trying to influence the government officials and employees associated with the polling process.

“Trinamul leaders have understood that their defeat is imminent in Malda. That is why they are trying to exert pressure on government employees.”