BJP–Trinamool clash in Siliguri as campaign debate between leaders turns heated

Political tensions escalated in Siliguri as a heated exchange broke out between leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress during an election campaign in the Dashrathpally area of Ward No. 44 under the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. The confrontation involved BJP candidate Shikha Chatterjee and Trinamool Congress councillor and Borough Chairperson Pritikana Biswas, reflecting the intensifying political climate ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

According to local sources, the interaction between the two leaders initially began in a cordial manner but soon turned into a heated argument. The debate centered around issues such as patriotism, border security and Hindutva. During the campaign, Shikha Chatterjee stressed that the nation should come first and raised concerns about alleged threats along the Bangladesh border, citing fears of infiltration and security challenges.

Responding sharply, Pritikana Biswas countered that border security is the responsibility of the Central Government. She argued that blaming the state administration and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for such issues was misplaced. The disagreement also extended to the issue of barbed-wire fencing along the border, with BJP supporters alleging that land acquisition problems were delaying the project. The Trinamool camp maintained that border management falls entirely under the Centre’s jurisdiction, while the BJP framed the electoral contest as a fight to protect the nation. The exchange also touched on the topics of Hindutva and the Rohingya issue. Local residents described the incident as a fierce political confrontation between the two leaders during the campaign.