The Trinamul Congress and the CPM have written to the Election Commission, accusing the BJP of harbouring criminals at Nandigram in East Midnapore, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her former protégé Suvendu Adhikari are locked in a tight fight.

The CPM has fielded young face Minakshi Mukherjee in the seat which will go to the polls on April 1.

Trinamul Rajya Sabha member Derek O’ Brien on Monday wrote to the chief election commissioner, naming four locations in Nandigram where the BJP was allegedly sheltering criminals.

The CPM also submitted a letter to the district electoral officer, making similar charges against Suvendu’s men on the ground. Sources say the allegations come in the wake of an “overwhelming” surge of BJP supporters at Nandigram ahead of the polls. The Opposition claimed they were “outsiders” and “antisocials”.

Derek alleged in the letter the homes of four BJP functionaries Kalipada Shee, |Meghnath Pal, Pabitra Kar and Bhojohari Samanta had become the hideouts of bikeborne youths, including criminals.

“Our candidate faces threat from criminals who have entered the area. It is the Election Commission’s job to look into the matter without delay,” said a senior CPM leader in Nandigram. On Monday, electoral authorities granted police cover to the Left’s Nandigram nominee Mukherjee following concerns expressed by the party regarding her safety.

“It goes without saying that Suvendu holds sway here notwithstanding his defection to the BJP, and he will not give up without a fight,” said a source, referring to local support for the former Trinamul leader who spearheaded the 2007 land agitation.

Trinamul turncoat and BJP leader Meghnath Pal denied the allegations. “Trinamul is being fearful and resentful. We have done nothing wrong. The local police are aware of all our activities.”

The sources said local Trinamul leaders were on |the backfoot following a series of rallies conducted by Suvendu.

“Suvendu has addressed at least 50 rallies, while Trinamul has not managed 10 in the past two weeks,” said a source.

Earlier this week, Trinamul received another blow when over 50 leaders fled after police cases against them connected to the land agitation had been reopened following a Calcutta High Court order in response to prayer by the BJP nominee at Nandakumar in the district.

Trinamul’s local election agent, Sheikh Sufian, claimed the BJP had been “terrorising the homes and families” of local Trinamul workers for the past week, taking advantage of their lull in activity.

CPM sources concurred, with district secretary Niranjan Sihi adding: “The BJP has created an air of terror in the area and we are worried about our candidate’s safety.”