Some Trinamul supporters in Rashidabad panchayat under Harishchandrapur I block have lodged a complaint with the BDO accusing the head of the Trinamul-run panchayat and a member of demanding money from them to link their Aadhaar numbers with their bank accounts.

This linking is necessary for villagers to avail the benefits of a government housing scheme.

Trinamul supporters like Sahanara Parvin, Samsuddin and some others said that the complaint against Pushpa Rabidas, the pradhan, and Ekramul Haque, a member, was necessary to “end corruption of some panchayat members of the party.”

“We were told we have to pay Rs 3,000 each to the pradhan and to some others if we want to avail benefits of the housing scheme,” said Sahanara.

Rabidas and Haque have denied the charges.

“A section of party workers are making deliberate attempts to tarnish the party’s image. We suspect they have wrong intentions,” said Rabidas.

Such complaints from the ruling party leaders against their party colleagues have become a regular feature in the district. In Old Malda block, a former head of a Trinamul run Mangalbari panchayat, has accused Suraiya Bibi, the present pradhan of the panchayat, of siphoning off funds meant for government projects.

In Kaliachak-II block, Trinamul members of Gangaprasad panchayat have accused the pradhan who is from the same party, for issuing tenders of over 49 lakhs by violating all regulations.

“Aminul Islam, the pradhan, even kept elected members of the party in dark before issuing the tenders. Such corrupt practices by him have been quite common,” said a dissident elected member Motiur Rahaman.

Such allegations from different parts of the district have left the district leaders perturbed.

“Trinamul never supports such corruption. But none has the right to malign the party as well. If anyone senses some corruption, he should bring it to our leaders so that we can conduct an internal probe. If the corruption is found, the accused would be summarily expelled. But if not, the complainant will have to face necessary steps,” said Dulal Sarkar, a coordinator of Malda district Trinamul.