TMC-BJP confrontation deepens in Siliguri amid allegations, violence
The Statesman | 10 April 2026
The Siliguri Assembly constituency is virtually simmering under the heat of political attacks and counter-attacks, emerging as a flashpoint in North Bengal’s electoral landscape. One of the most significant constituencies in the region, Siliguri is increasingly turning into a theatre of intense political confrontation between the Trinamul Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with tensions escalating almost daily.
The latest round of controversy began over allegations that plainclothes police personnel were involved in tearing down TMC posters. The situation took a dramatic turn when BJP candidate Shankar Ghosh confronted the police team that had gone to investigate the allegations. The confrontation escalated into a heated exchange, eventually leading to the police filing an FIR against Ghosh.
Not to be outdone, TMC candidate and Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb lodged a series of complaints against the BJP with the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Officer on Tuesday evening, further intensifying the political tension in the constituency.
Amid this charged atmosphere, an incident on Hill Cart Road added a fresh layer of concern. A local businessman was allegedly attacked by miscreants, drawing sharp reactions from both political camps. BJP candidate Sankar Ghosh rushed to the spot soon after the incident, while Gautam Deb also met the injured businessman and interacted with local traders.
However, the episode took a more contentious turn when Hill Cart Road-based businessman Pradeep Bansal made explosive allegations in the public domain. He called for all traders’ bodies to unite against the rising attacks on the business community. More significantly, he accused Sanjay Tibrewal, chairman of the TMC’s Siliguri organisational district, of being involved in a political conspiracy aimed at defeating Gautam Deb in the current election, allegedly to position himself as a future candidate.
Tibrewal, however, strongly refuted the allegations, terming them baseless and warning of legal action against Bansal for making such statements.
Meanwhile, the BJP found itself on the defensive following another incident late Tuesday night. BJP youth leader Sourav Sarkar has been accused of driving under the influence and hitting a person identified as Niraj Kumar Shah before fleeing the scene. Shah has lodged a written complaint with the police, who have since registered a hit-and-run case against Sarkar.
Seizing on the development, TMC’s youth and student wings staged a protest outside a police station on Wednesday, demanding strict action against the accused.
Responding to the FIR filed against him, Sankar Ghosh told reporters, “If I have done anything wrong, the law should take its own course ~ I have no objection. But the way plainclothes police behaved with our women workers made it necessary for me to protest.”
He also raised questions over law enforcement, asking, “Why has no one been arrested yet in the attack on businessmen on Hill Cart Road? A few days ago, a prominent doctor in Siliguri was also brutally assaulted ~ has any concrete action been taken in that case?”