Assembly polls: TMC activists demonstrate over candidates list across WB

The activists demonstrated a day after West Bengal CM and party supremo Mamata Banerjee announced the candidates list.

Demanding change in candidates list, a large number of ruling party cadres staged agitation, sit-in-demonstration, road-blockade and protest march in different districts of the state including Howrah, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Burdwan and Kolkata.

Protesting against the selection of cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla as a contestant from Howrah North constituency, few Trinamool activists wiped out election graffiti, in favour of Shukla at Aurobinda Road area in Howrah.

Agitating against the selection of TMC candidate from Howrah South constituency, Braja Mohan Majumder, and demanding election-ticket for their leader Masud Alam Khan, a large number of TMC activists demonstrated at Bakultala area in Howrah. They blocked Andul Road at Bakultala and stopped ferry service between Najirganj and Kolkata's Metiabruz for hours.

Besides this, thousands of Indian Oil-Mourigram depot staffers, under the leadership of TMC's labour wing- INTTUC, stopped service, which disrupted oil loading and unloading for few hours. Effigy of TMC ticket-holder Braja Mohan Majumder was also burnt there.

A huge police force and Rapid Action Force (RAF) went to the spot later and brought the situation under control.

However, when was asked about the incidents, state minister and TMC's Howrah district president Arup Roy told IBNS, "Our party's supremo Mamata Banerjee have selected those people as candidates for upcoming election. They are all deserving candidates. We will never tolerate such indisciplined activities and party will take strict action against it."

Protesting against the selection of TMC participant from Deganga constituency- Rahima Mondal- and demanding election-ticket for a local leader, followers of TMC leader Mintu Shahji held demonstration and blocked Barasat-Taki Road at Berachampa More area in North 24 Parganas district.

Meanwhile, agitating against the selection of WB Assembly's deputy speaker Sonali Guha as a contestant from Satgachhia constituency in South 24 Parganas district, a large number of TMC activists staged protest at district's main Trinamool party-office.

Protesting over the same issue, a section of TMC cadres demonstrated and held road-blockade at several locations in Mayureswar and Sainthia areas of Birbhum district.

However, Birbhum district president of TMC, Anubrata Mondal denied such incidents.

Meanwhile, protesting against the selection of TMC candidate Subhash Mondal from Bhatar constituency in Burdwan district and demanding replacement of the candidate with local leader Banamali Hazra, few TMC supporters agitated in front of TMC headquarter- Trinamool Bhawan- in Kolkata.

Such protests, demonstrations and road-blockades were reported on Saturday from several locations, including Bharatpur in Murshidabad, Kharagpur in West Midnapore, Mejia in Bankura and Karandighi in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal.

However, TMC leadership claimed that such incidents were not being given importance.

Assembly polls in the state will be commencing from April 4.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)