TMC MLA Akhil Giri was injured as violence marred the elections for the 13 board members of a co-operative bank in Contai in Purba Medinipur district on Saturday.

Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari is the chairman of the bank, which has 14 seats. The TMC has already won one of the seats unopposed, leading to polling for 13 other seats.

Last December, Central forces were deployed on the orders of the Supreme Court for the cooperative bank elections at Contai.

Giri, a former minister, however, accused the state police of “colluding” with the BJP in “stopping the TMC supporters from voting” in the cooperative bank election.

The MLA from Ramnagar said, “This police is the root of trouble.”

Giri was caught on camera targeting the police personnel outside Ramnagar College where polling took place. Giri alleged that a TMC supporter was disallowed from casting a vote since he was carrying a photocopy of a valid identity card.

Giri got caught in the scuffle at the Ramnagar College booth, and suffered wounds on his hands, the officer said.

His supporters demonstrated before the booth, alleging that Giri was pushed by one of the policemen during the scuffle. Later, Giri was taken to the Tamralipta Medical College and Hospital.

On the other hand, the BJP accused Giri’s son Suprakash of threatening their supporters.

Two days ago, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), had turned down a PIL demanding the bank polls be held under the watch of central paramilitary forces.

When Adhikari was with the TMC, he held the post of the chairman of the bank. Suvendu and his father, former Contai MP Sisir Adhikari, wrested control over not only Contai, but the entire Purba Medinipur district.

Elections to the cooperative bank are significant because it is being held in Contai, an area considered a stronghold of the Adhikaris. Suvendu had defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 Assembly polls in Nandigram, which is also in this district.

Two days ago, a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das) had turned down a PIL demanding the bank polls be held under the watch of central paramilitary forces.

-with PTI