Islampur Trinamul Congress MLA Abdul Karim Choudhury has threatened to step down after his arch rival was made the local block president of the party.

“The party leadership has selected Zakir Hossain as the new Islampur block president of Trinamul. This is unacceptable. He carries guns, leads a group of miscreants and often unleashes violence. Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee should look into the matter and remove him from the post. Otherwise, I might even step down as the MLA,” the septuagenarian leader said on Tuesday evening.

In Islampur, Trinamul is divided into a number of lobbies. Both Choudhury and Hossain lead their own factions.

Trinamul insiders said Choudhury wanted to have his elder son as the Islampur block president of the party.

Hossain, the new block president, said: “Those who cannot accept the party’s decision should realise that if they do not function under Trinamul banner, they will face an identity crisis.”

Kanaialal Agarwal, the North Dinajpur district Trinamul president, said he had no idea that Hossain was involved in illegal activities. “All of us should accept the decision and work together instead of fuming against each other in public. This is not a responsible behaviour,” he said.