The BJP’s proposed candidate from East Burdwan’s Galsi, Tapan Bagdi, on Monday had to return from the district election office without filing his nomination papers as the saffron party denied him the ticket at the last minute.

In the evening, the BJP replaced Bagdi with Bikash Biswas, a leader of BJP teachers’ wing.

Sources said that after the BJP had announced the name of Bagdi as the party’s nominee from Galsi, many party workers started campaigning against him and openly condemned the party’s decision to field him as he had been accused in a case of molestation.

Bagdi, however, had started campaigning with graffiti in his name. At the same time, many BJP workers protested against him with posters, which became embarrassing for the party.

On Monday morning, Bagdi arrived with five of his aides to file his nomination at the district election office.

“When he was before the returning officer, a phone call from Calcutta arrived on his cell phone. Apparently, some senior leader told him to not file the papers,” a BJP leader of the area said.

BJP district president Abhijit Tah, when contacted, said: “There was some embargo and so we could not field him, because of his alleged involvement in a criminal case. It the party leaders in Delhi changed the name.”

On why the issue was not scrutinised before Bagdi’s name was announced as the candidate, Tah said he could not comment about it.

A BJP leader who was part of those who protested against Bagdi’s candidature, said: “Despite knowing his criminal background, the party announced his name. That was the reason for our protest. There were many in the party who could have been fielded instead of him.”

On the sudden turn of events, Bagdi said: “I came to file nomination but the party did not give me a ticket. I was asked by a leader not to submit my papers. I can’t say more.”

BJP insiders said Bagdi’s removal was part of a much larger ongoing feud between the BJP old-timers and newcomers. Bagdi is an old-timer.

The district saw fierce infighting between the old and new camps on January 21, when a new three-storey BJP party office in Burdwan town, inaugurated by its national president J.P. Nadda in December, was stoned by party workers during an alleged clash between two factions, over charges that then district president Sandip Nandi had been neglecting old-timers for turncoats. Later, Nandi was showcaused and removed from his post.

Sources said some BJP old-timers had decided to stand as Independents in places where the party chose candidates from among the newcomers.

“Old-timer Ganesh Majhi has already filed his nomination in Burdwan North. Another will file his papers soon in Burdwan South. All the old-timers have said they will try their best to defeat the party’s official candidates,” said a BJP source.

Tah, the BJP’s district president, insisted there were no such issues.

Even Alok Majhi, the Trinamul MLA from Galsi and a party candidate from Jamalpur, vouched for Bagdi.

“Tapanda (Bagdi) is an old-timer in the BJP, we had seen him working for the party since early 1990s,” Majhi said.

“He may have some cases against him, but there are such cases against scores of BJP candidates. This (denial of the party ticket to him) proved once again that the BJP is neglecting its old loyalists. It will ruin the dream of the BJP coming to power,” Majhi added.