A new battle of colours seems to be unfolding between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress at the panchayat office at Bhabuk in Old Malda block.

The BJP-run board at Bhabuk panchayat painted the building in saffron, replacing the blue-and-white combination preferred by the TMC-run state government.

Following the fresh coat of saffron paint, TMC panchayat members have demanded that the state government stop funding the rural body. BJP leaders countered that they did no wrong.

Bhabuk is a stronghold of the saffron party. In the rural polls held in 2023, Trinamool won a majority of the panchayats in Malda district but in Bhabuk the BJP won 11 out of 19 seats, with the TMC winning seven seats and one going to an Independent.

The panchayat building donned the blue-and-white paint till last week when the BJP board took over the colour scheme into their own hands.

Trinamool immediately took note of it and complained in writing to district officials.

"Blue and white are the state government-approved colors. The BJP-run board changed it into saffron as if the panchayat is their own party office. The state government should stop sending funds to this board,” said Dilip Hembram, the local TMC president.

TMC leaders said that they would resort to an agitation if the building wasn't restored to its blue-and-white look.

Prabhunath Dubey, the pradhan of the BJP-run Bhabuk panchayat, rubbished Trinamool's objections. "Saffron is the first colour of our national flag. It has immense significance. There is no official circular that a panchayat building has to be painted in blue and white," said Dubey

The ball is now at the district administration's court. "The matter is being looked into," said an official.