Mayhem at Cong state HQ as supporters of ‘jilted’ neta storm office
Times of India | 2 April 2026
Kolkata: Clashes broke out at Bengal Congress headquarters ‘Bidhan Bhawan' on Wednesday afternoon when a section of party workers demanded the candidate for Ballygunge be changed. Late Congress neta Somen Mitra's son Roahan Mitra has been nominated for the constituency.
A scuffle broke out as Congress workers tried to storm the party headquarters and at least one worker sustained a head injury. Protesters broke into the main hall, vandalising furniture, smashing panes and throwing chairs. A female worker alleged that she had been molested during the incident. Hundreds of party workers staged a violent protest against the state leadership, citing grievances over the "unfavourable" distribution of tickets for the upcoming elections.
Supporters of Ballygunge Congress neta Zayed Hossain claimed he had been promised the seat and accused the leadership of nepotism. Protesters even accused state president Subhankar Sarkar and the selection committee of selecting outsiders and ignoring loyal workers. They also alleged that grassroots workers were not consulted before nominating candidates.
The discontent was not limited to Kolkata. Similar reports of vandalism and "office lockouts" emerged from district offices in Serampore and East Burdwan, indicating a widespread discontent within the party's state ranks.
Mitra continued his campaign on Wednesday. "The party believes in selection of candidates on merit. There was discontent among a section of workers. They can convey that peacefully to the party leadership," Mitra said.