Gopal Chandra Saha, the BJP candidate of Malda Assembly seat, was attacked late on Sunday evening.

While BJP workers claimed that Saha, in his late forties, was shot at by Trinamul-backed goons, Trinamul workers alleged that he was injured by a heavy stone that might have been pelted by dissident BJP workers.

Saha, who sustained a serious neck injury, was admitted to the MMCH where doctors said it was too early to comment on the cause of the wound.

The attack occurred around 8.45pm when Saha was on his way to a public meeting at Jhantu More.

District BJP president Gobinda Chandra Mandal said: “It was a clear attempt to kill our candidate. We believe he was fired at by hooligans backed by Trinamul.”

Trinamul district spokesperson Subhamay Bose claimed his party had no link with the incident.

Police have started an investigation. Additional SP M.H. Rahman said the cause of injury and what exactly happened were being looked into.