The state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday came down heavily on the ruling party and accused it of ignoring victims of the clash that broke out on Ram Navami in Raniganj and Asansol.

He also assured that a three-member team of the central BJP committee will tomorrow be interacting with the people who lost their homes and property after the clash.

In Alipurduar, meanwhile, the secretary of the central committee of the BJP, Rahul Sinha, criticised the State Election Commission. The state BJP president also slammed the state police and accused them of being incompetent enough to stop the clash in Raniganj and Asansol.

“In order to control the clashes in West Burdwan, the Centre had approached the state about deploying central forces, but the chief minister refused any force and the state police ultimately failed to control the clashes there,” Mr Ghosh said.

According to party sources, more than 500 persons from different political parties, including the CPI-M, joined the BJP camp in North Dinajpur on Friday.

Mr Ghosh further accused the policies of the ruling government and said, “The state government is trying to conduct panchayat elections in the 1st week of May because Miss Banarjee has already concluded her political propaganda on the polls in all the districts of the state after spending a wholesome amount of government funds.”

“We wanted the elections to be held in July. If the panchayat elections are held on the 1st week of May, then other political parties will have no time to campaign for the elections. We, however, are preparing to contest the elections exclusively against the Trinamul,” he added.

Mr Ghosh also said that his party has demanded with the state election commission that it deploy central forces during the elections to avoid unfair voting practices.

In Alipurduar, Rahul Sinha held a meeting with district and block-level leaders at the district party office. Mr Sinha demanded that the State Election Commissioner resign from his post, as according to him, “he is unable to take decisions without taking directions from the Chief Minister.” “Miss Banerjee should sit on the chair of the State Election Comissioner,” he said. Mr Sinha further mocked the TMC and said its time has gone as people have started chanting the name of ‘Ram.’