HT Correspondent
AGARTALA/ KOLKATA, Oct 8: A high-level delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday left for Tripura to express solidarity with party workers following the alleged vandalism of its state headquarters in Agartala by BJP’s youth wing members.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening at the Chittaranjan Road office, has triggered sharp political reactions and renewed tensions between the ruling BJP and the TMC in the northeastern state.
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The five-member delegation from West Bengal comprised TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh, state minister Birbaha Hansda, MPs Saayoni Ghosh and Pratima Mondal, and party spokesperson Sudip Raha. Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev joined the team at Agartala airport.
Upon arrival at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport (MBB), the delegation alleged that their movement within the city was deliberately obstructed.
Kunal Ghosh claimed that vehicles arranged for their transport were blocked at the airport and drivers were threatened, preventing them from reaching the party office.
“Drivers meant to take us to our office were stopped and intimidated. Such tactics show how democracy is being undermined,” Ghosh told reporters.
MP Saayoni Ghosh said that the obstruction reflected “a deeply troubling political climate.”
“Preventing us from reaching our own office highlights the fear of political competition and the collapse of democratic norms,” she added.
Despite the hurdles, the team later reached the party office in Agartala under tight security.
The delegation subsequently met Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag to lodge a formal complaint regarding the alleged attack and to seek enhanced security for TMC leaders and party infrastructure in the state.
“We have discussed past incidents, including the attack on Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy in 2021. The DGP assured us that necessary action would be taken,” Ghosh said.
According to party sources, the TMC has also sought an appointment with Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu to apprise him of the situation and raise concerns about political freedom and safety in the state.
Before departing from Kolkata, Kunal Ghosh had said, “We are ready to face any consequence. But we have to go there, as such attacks on opposition parties in the presence of police should be protested and resisted peacefully.”
TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh added that the attack on BJP leaders in flood-hit north Bengal earlier in the week “was not carried out by TMC workers but by common people angered over remarks that central funds would be blocked under the 100-day work scheme.”
She reiterated that the party condemned any assault on elected representatives.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee strongly condemned the alleged vandalism, posting on X, “Unable to defeat the Trinamool Congress at the ballot box in Bengal, BJP has unleashed its full machinery to provoke violence in states where they hold power. Their karyakartas attacked and ransacked our party office in Tripura under the watchful eyes of the police, revealing their vindictive mindset.”
He further stated, “This is not an isolated incident. In Tripura alone, our leaders and workers have repeatedly faced assaults. Intimidation, violence, and vendettas will never silence us. Democracy and law will prevail over BJP’s brute politics.”
In Kolkata, senior TMC leader and state minister Sashi Panja described the Agartala incident as “pre-planned” and accused BJP MLA from Bishalgarh, Sushanta Dev, and BJP’s youth wing vice president Vikki Prasad of leading the attack.
“Former Tripura chief minister and BJP’s West Bengal in-charge Biplab Deb is trying to regain relevance after being sidelined within his own party. He is behind this deep-rooted conspiracy,” she alleged.
The TMC has condemned the incident as a direct assault on democratic values, while the BJP has not issued an official statement in response.
The party delegation in Tripura said it would continue to assess the situation and stand “in full solidarity” with its workers amid what it termed “an increasingly hostile political environment.” (With inputs from PTI)
