Block Trinamul leaders of Mothabari here have sought expulsion of five party leaders accusing them of indulging in anti-party activities ahead and during the Assembly elections.

Mothabari block is the Assembly constituency of party MLA Sabina Yeasmin who has also earned a berth as a minister of state in the new cabinet of Mamata Banerjee.

The block leaders have alleged that Tinku Rahaman Biswas, the sabhapati of Mothabari panchayat samiti, Champa Mandal, an elected member of the zilla parishad from the area, her spouse and former zilla parishad member Dwijen Mandal, Aminul Islam and Zarika Bibi, the pradhans of Gangaprasad and Hamidpur gram panchayats, had been working against the interest of Trinamul and also distributed money among people to vote against Yeasmin.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's block committee on Monday. Among those whose expulsion has been recommended, include four elected representatives. The fifth is the husband of one of these representatives who are functionaries in different tiers of the panchayat system.

“We have evidence against them and want the district leaders to remove them. On Monday at a committee meeting, 46 of 49 members assented to the recommendation in writing ,” said Sudhir Das, the Trinamul president of Mothabari block.

The accused have, however, rubbished the charges. “We have fallen prey to a conspiracy. A section of leaders want to weaken the party in Mothabari,” he said.

Yeasmin, the MLA, who is also in favour of their expulsion said she would discuss the issue with senior party leaders.

Such recommendation of expulsion, which has again exposed the infighting within Trinamul in Malda, has left the district leaders in an awkward position. Mausam Noor, the district Trinamul president, was brief in her reactions.

“The district committee will meet soon to discuss the recommendations,” she said.