Around 500 Trinamul supporters in Cooch Behar reached the district BJP office on Monday and resorted to a protest against the rath yatra, a nationwide outreach planned by the saffron camp ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

In Cooch Behar, a “rath” or a decorated vehicle carrying photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on Sunday. From Monday, it was to visit various rural pockets of the district to apprise people about central schemes, but has not received police permission yet, a district BJP leader said.

Named “Grameen Samvad Yatra,” the BJP has planned to run 1,500 such vehicles equipped with drones and GPS. The target is to send such vehicles across over 2.5 lakh panchayats across India to showcase the achievements of the Modi government.

Around noon, Trinamul supporters, led by party district president Avijit De Bhowmik, reached Pancharangi in Cooch Behar town where the district BJP office is located.

They squatted on the street, waved flags and shouted anti-BJP and anti-Modi slogans.

“The central government halted funds for the 100-days-work and some other schemes. People across Bengal have been deprived of their dues. At such a time, the BJP has planned a rath yatra. We won't let them campaign here,” said De Bhowmik.

The demonstration continued for 45 minutes after which police reached the spot and persuaded the demonstrators to disperse.

BJP leaders alleged some Trinamul supporters splashed ink on the Prime Minister’s photograph in the vehicle.

“It was parked near New Cooch Behar station. Some Trinamul supporters put ink on the PM’s photo. We condemn it,” said Sukumar Roy, the district BJP president, adding the vehicle was supposed to roll out on Monday, but couldn't. “We didn’t get permission from the police. Once we get it, the vehicle will reach villages. Trinamul is trying to stop the vehicle so that people stay ignorant of central welfare schemes."