BJP workers in West Burdwan’s Budbud have brought out a list of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana from whom money had been allegedly extorted by a Trinamul gram panchayat chief.

The BJP is distributing the list among residents with the demand that the “cut money” be returned.

Ashok Bhattacharya, the chief of Chaktentul gram panchayat in Galsi block 1, has stopped going to office since June 10 after some suspected BJP workers ransacked the office and his home.

Bhattacharya denied the charge. “The list they have prepared is fake and no money was collected from anyone. The BJP is trying to capture the rural body after it failed to contest in last year’s election,” said Bhattacharya.

Trinamul won the 14-member rural body uncontested in last year’s panchayat polls. The Opposition alleged that the ruling party did not allow it to put up candidates.

“The rural body chief has collected more than Rs 4 lakh from villagers against promise of homes under PMAY and also swindled funds for paying wages to the labourers under the scheme,” said Tapan Bagdi a BJP leader from Galsi-I block.

Block development officer Binay Kumar Mandal has told the BJP workers that their allegations will be looked into.

In Bankura’s Onda, BJP activists gheraoed the Trinamul-run Shantore gram panchayat demanding transparency in implementation of the housing plan and 100 days’ job guarantee scheme.