A group of BJP workers on Wednesday allegedly ransacked a makeshift stage erected by the party’s sidelined workers and old-timers for a meeting by national secretary Anupam Hazra at Khoirasole in Birbhum.

The attack occurred within hours of Hazra slamming the state leadership from his social media handle.

BJP workers armed with bamboo sticks attacked the organisers of the event and ransacked the makeshift stage. Police averted a clash between two BJP groups.

Ganesh Ghosh, one of the organisers, said: “BJP leaders backed by current local party presidents ransacked our temporary stage as we invited our leader Anupam Hazra... Our party colleagues are acting like enemies.”

“In a Facebook live in the morning, I informed (you) that’s how a conspiracy has been pitched by Dhruba Saha (BJP’s Birbhum president) and Anup Saha (party’s Dubrajpur MLA), who are close aides of Amitava Chakravorty (BJP’s general secretary, organisation), to stop me from attending the programme with sidelined and deprived leaders. The apprehension finally came true as the stage where I was to address BJP workers as the party’s national secretary was ransacked, just before my arrival. If I was there, those goons wouldn’t have spared me,” Hazra said.

In his Facebook live on Wednesday morning, he attacked state president Sukanta Majumdar and Chakravorty.

Although Hazra has a national portfolio, he could not find space in big party events, including those of Union home minister Amit Shah or party president J.P. Nadda.

On Monday, Hazra mounted a scathing attack on current state leaders for “neglecting” thousands of party old-timers at an event in East Burdwan’s Kalna.

On Wednesday, he was to meet BJP old-timers in Khoirasole.

On Tuesday, Samik Bhattacharya, the Bengal BJP’s chief spokesperson, openly questioned Hazra’s acceptance among party workers.

A source in the BJP said the state leadership had informed the party’s national unit about Hazra’s “anti-party activities”.

“His (Hazra’s) act is actually going against the party.... He is directly mounting attacks on our senior leaders like general secretary (organisation) and state president. The central leadership has been informed,” said a BJP leader.

Sukanta Majumdar, the BJP state president, on Wednesday hinted that the central leadership would soon take action against him.

“The party’s central leadership is aware of everything. You will come to know about the result very soon,” Majumdar told the reporters on Wednesday when asked on Hazra.

Hazra said his activities were done in keeping with national president J.P. Nadda’s instructions.

“I also request Sukanta Majumdar to wait for a few days to see the outcome,” said Hazra.

BJP worker death

Bankura police on Wednesday morning recovered the body of BJP worker Subhadeep Mishra, 25, hanging from a tree at Gangajalghati of Bankura. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused Trinamul-backed goons of murdering Mishra. A family member of Mishra lodged a murder complaint with the police against a woman and four others of her family. Trinamul dismissed the charge and accused the BJP of trying to polticise the death. Police said a probe was on.