The district saffron camp suffered a loss of face as BJP workers in a number of villages under Manikchak block accused the head of a saffron party-run panchayat of demanding money from prospective beneficiaries of the 100-days work scheme.

Workers, led by Pintu Goswami, a BJP leader of the block, alleged that Pampa Sarkar, the head of the BJP-run Nazirpur panchayat, was corrupt. A written complaint was filed with the district administration, they said.

“The pradhan is asking for money from villagers in exchange for assurances of enrolment in the MGNREGS. We also know she embezzled funds sanctioned to the panchayat for the scheme. Such activities, we believe, have tarnished the image of our party and that is why we want both the administration and the party to take steps,” said Goswami.

The allegations come at a time when BJP leaders across tiers are raising fingers at Trinamul over the culture of “cuts” in rural bodies.

In public meetings, BJP representatives have accused elected representatives of Mamata Banerjee’s party functioning in rural bodies of taking cuts from people while assuring them of welfare scheme benefits.

Such blatant accusation by BJP workers against an elected representative of the party has made district BJP leaders try and control the damage.

“Our party will not stand by anyone if allegations are proven,” said Ajay Ganguly, district BJP spokesperson. “But the administration should look into the allegations made against rural bodies where Trinamul is in power.”

District administration officials confirmed they received the complaint. “A probe has been ordered on veracity of the charges made against the Nazirpur panchayat chief,” said Rajarshi Mitra, Malda district magistrate.

In Malda, residents also witnessed allegations and counter-allegations among BJP and Trinamul over Swasthya Sathi cards.

In Kaliachak-II block, the BJP released a video purportedly showing the cards of the free health insurance scheme provided by the state strewn all around with papers, suspected to be application forms, in a deserted location.

Authorities of a Trinamul-run panchayat did not distribute the cards to beneficiaries and instead tried to dispose of them, local BJP leaders alleged. Trinamul denied the charges. “The BJP is trying to create confusion by circulating a fake video,” said a leader.