The Trinamul Congress’s Asansol mayor, Jitendra Kumar Tiwari, on Wednesday handed over cheques for Rs 25,000 each to 22 Rath Yatra organisers, prompting the BJP to allege misuse of public funds for political gains.

At a programme held in the mayor’s chamber on Wednesday morning, Tiwari presented what his party was calling “donations” to the organisers.

“We have handed over a cheque for Rs 25,000 each to 22 Rath Yatra organisers from the civic body’s own funds. This is a popular Hindu festival which we observe every year,” said Tiwari.

West Burdwan BJP president Lakshman Ghorui said: “The mayor is trying to purchase Hindu votes by spending tax payers’ money on Hindu festivals. The people rejected them in the Lok Sabha polls and they will be ousted from the civic body as well.”

Asked about the BJP’s allegation that he was spending the taxpayers’ money on a religious festival, Tiwari said: “I have been giving donations for the past three years but we still lost the general election to the BJP in Asansol. The allegations of the BJP are baseless and politically motivated. It is the BJP that uses Hindu festivals as the poll plank. We do this out of devotion.”

Sources said Tiwari, who is also the MLA of Pandaveswar, had begun providing financial assistance to Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti organisers in Asansol — within his Assembly area — shortly after being elected in 2016.

“He has taken initiatives to mobilise funds for setting up 10 sun temples in the area,” said an Asansol resident.