BJP leaders of North and South Dinajpur have decided to highlight in their panchayat poll campaigns some recent incidents in the districts that led to ripples in the political arena, along with the agenda of reported corruption in rural bodies and scams in the state.

“In our campaigns to seek votes from people, we will highlight the killing of Mrityunjoy Barman. It is an unprecedented incident as a youth was shot dead by the police without provocation. In our meetings and campaigns, we will carry his picture and tell people about police atrocities. We plan to bring eyewitnesses at the meetings to narrate the heinous incident,” said Basudeb Sarkar, the district BJP president in North Dinajpur.

The BJP will also highlight the ordeal faced by Asim Debsharma, a poor migrant worker who had to carry his infant son’s body from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital on the outskirts of Siliguri, to Kaliaganj, located 200km apart, packed in a bag in a bus as he couldn’t afford an ambulance.

“This is yet another incident to which the rural voters can easily relate. The ordeal that the bereaved father had to face is a blatant example of the pathetic health infrastructure of the state and the highhandedness of the (ambulance) syndicates,” the BJP leader added.

The saffron camp will also underscore the “dandi” atonement ritual which four tribal women of South Dinajpur were forced to perform reportedly by some Trinamul leaders after the quartet rejoined Trinamul after joining the BJP for a day.

Scheduled Tribes form around 17 per cent of South Dinajpur's population.

“This will be our main issue against Trinamul in rural polls in this district. Trinamul tried to control the damage, but till date, the principal accused who had forced these women to perform the so-called ritual has not been arrested,” said Bapi Sarkar, a general secretary of the BJP in the district.

Leaders of Mamata Banerjee’s party are also gearing up the task to counter the charges of the saffron camp.

Kanaialal Agarwala, the district Trinamul president in North Dinajpur, said the state government has taken appropriate steps after the incidents.

“We are aware that the BJP will resort to such cheap politics. That is why our workers have been asked to visit every household at the booth level and apprise them how the BJP orchestrated the violence at Kaliaganj police station and neighbouring areas,” he said.