The ugly side of the rivalry between Trinamul and the BJP came to the fore on Thursday when representatives of both went to console the kin of a Durgapur couple, who died in an accident during their tour to Uttarakhand on Wednesday.

The grief-stricken family was compelled to request both BJP MLA from Durgapur (West) Lakkhan Ghorui and Trinamul councillor Sushil Chatterjee from ward 16 in Durgapur, to leave.

Both Ghorui and Chatterjee had gone to the Link Park residence of Subrata Bhattacharya, 61, and wife Runa, 55, two of the five tourists from West Burdwan district who died in the road mishap at Bagheshwar district in Uttarakhand, to console the family.

Reportedly, Chatterjee and party workers were standing in front of the Bhattacharya home when the BJP’s Ghorui arrived with his followers at 11.30am.

Ghorui was wearing a saffron neck scarf with BJP emblazoned on it. This reportedly angered the Trinamul councillor. Chatterjee pointed to Ghorui’s scarf and objected to it, accusing the saffron leader of coming to condole the deaths with a political motive.

Ghorui refuted Chatterjee’s charges.

“I am a public representative as well as a human being. I have come here to console the family as an MLA and a human being,” said Ghorui.

Sources said the verbal spat between Ghorui and Chatterjee went on in front of the bereaved family members who were waiting outside their house for the arrival of the bodies from Uttarakhand.

Finally, one of the relatives, Sriparna Banerjee, with folded hands, requested the sparring duo to leave.

“We are already in unbearable pain and not in a position to speak to you anymore. I apologise. Please leave us (alone),” Sriparna told the leaders with folded hands according to sources.

Ghorui spoke to journalists and left. Later, speaking to the media, Chatterjee questioned Ghorui for wearing the BJP’s scarf. “I also represent Trinamul in the corporation but I am not carrying my political identity. We (Trinamul) work for people and they (BJP) only believe in politics. Our chief minister has taken initiative to bring back the bodies,” he said.

CPM West Burdwan district secretariat member Pankaj Roy Sarkar said the whole incident revealed the true culture of the BJP and Trinamul. “We can’t imagine that anyone can use a tragedy for political gain. Both the BJP and the Trinamul can’t see beyond politics,” said Roy Sarkar.