Kolkata: A factional feud erupted in BJP’s Barrackpore unit on Monday with party MLA Kaustav Bagchi threatening self-immolation if former Trinamool functionaries Uttam Das and Prashanta Chowdhury were inducted into the saffron camp.Bagchi attacked party colleague and state transport minister Arjun Singh, accusing him of trying to bring the two former civic body chairmen into BJP. “If these people join our party, its image will be tarnished. If I have to pour kerosene and set myself on fire in front of our state headquarters to protest against their induction, I will do so,” Bagchi said.Stressing his political commitment, he added: “I know the people of Bengal have no doubts about my political conviction as I have kept my head shaved for three-and-a-half years.”The controversy began after Das, the former chairman of Barrackpore Municipality, and Chowdhury, former chairman of Titagarh Municipality, were seen sharing stage with Singh at a Bijoya Sammilani programme in Barrackpore on Sunday. A photograph of the event went viral, triggering anger among sections of the local BJP leadership and workers.The rift deepened when Bagchi reportedly walked off the stage at a local football event after seeing Singh share the dais with Das.The confrontation is linked to the murder of BJP youth neta and Titagarh Municipality councillor Manish Shukla. Bagchi alleged that Das and Chowdhury had been accused in connection with the murder and claimed Shukla’s father had lodged a police complaint against them.“As Barrackpore MLA, party workers are expressing their anger to me. If senior netas like Arjun Singh continue making such mistakes, it will embarrass both us and the party. I have no personal grudge against him. I would urge him to rectify these mistakes,” Bagchi said.“I will never allow people like Uttam Das and Prashanta Chowdhury, who have been accused in the Manish Shukla murder case, to join BJP. I will not allow them to enter the party under any circumstances,” he added.Singh dismissed the criticism. “Bagchi’s statement holds no value for me. I have been in politics for so many years, and I know very well how politics is done,” he said.Bagchi also alleged that motorcycle-borne men had threatened him with death and bomb attacks at his residence, blaming Das and some BJP functionaries.END
