Mottakin Alam, the Congress candidate contesting from the Manikchak Assembly seat in Malda, and district Congress president Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury were attacked and their vehicles were ransacked on Sunday while they were moving through a locality in Manikchak to campaign for the elections.

District Congress leaders have blamed TMC-backed goons for the attack and filed complaints with the police and Election Commission.

Sabitri Mitra, a former minister and the TMC candidate from Manikchak has refuted the allegation.

Khan Choudhury, who is also the Congress MP from Malda South seat, said they were on their way to Fulbaria when the incident took place.

“Alam’s car was ahead and my vehicle was following it. Suddenly, a group of people, many of whom were holding TMC flags, blocked the road. While some pelted stones on our vehicles, others tried to drag out Alam, who is the sitting MLA of Manikchak,” he said.

Kalisadhan Roy, a septuagenarian and working president of Malda district Congress was also not spared, the Congress MP added.

Alam, who is the sitting MLA of Manikchak, was equally critical of the ruling party. Some elected members of a local rural body where the Trinamul is in power had organised the attack, he alleged.

“I was fortunate to escape with minor injuries. The attack exposes the frustrations of Trinamul leaders and their followers. We want the police and administration to take stern steps,” he said.

Mitra, the TMC candidate however, distanced herself from the incident. In a video message that she circulated among the local media, Mitra claimed that she is under treatment.

“Also, the head of Fulbaria panchayat has undergone a surgery and is under treatment. Those who had a tussle with the Congress leaders have no connection with our party. Congress is unnecessarily indulging in a blame game,” she said.

Subhamay Bose, a spokesperson for the TMC, said: “A section of Congress workers are miffed with Alam’s nomination from Manikchak for the second time. They might have demonstrated before the Congress leaders,” he said.

After the incident, Congress and CPM supporters held joint protests at a number of places in the district on Sunday afternoon.

Rajarshi Mitra, the district magistrate and the district election officer, confirmed that they have received complaints from the Congress leaders. “We are looking into it,” he said.