Kolkata, May 10: In a significant political development, Bhishmadev Karmakar, a councillor from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has been arrested in Baharampur, Murshidabad district of West Bengal. He faces allegations of obstructing the election campaign of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
A senior officer from the Murshidabad police confirmed that Karmakar’s arrest was based on a complaint filed during the campaign. The TMC councillor, who represents Ward No. 19 of Baharampur Municipality, was taken into custody by the local police on Saturday night. Karmakar also serves as the president of the youth wing of the TMC in the Murshidabad organizational district.
On April 4, as the state was in the throes of assembly election campaigning, Chowdhury was actively promoting his candidacy in the Baharampur constituency. Karmakar is accused of disrupting Chowdhury’s rally, during which slogans against the Congress leader were allegedly shouted.
The situation escalated, prompting police intervention to prevent further unrest. During the campaign, Chowdhury accused the TMC of deliberately attempting to hinder his election efforts. Subsequently, a written complaint was lodged at the Baharampur police station regarding the incident.
Karmakar, however, has denied the allegations, asserting that Chowdhury was attempting to incite unrest by bringing in outsiders. He claimed that local residents protested against the Congress leader of their own accord.
Following Karmakar’s arrest, some factions within the TMC have alleged that the action was politically motivated. Supporters and local leaders have accused the ruling party of targeting TMC workers and leaders for political reasons across the state.
They further alleged that this arrest occurred after the BJP government came to power in the state. However, police officials refuted these claims, stating that the action was taken based on specific complaints related to the April 4 incident.
Police sources indicated that the legal proceedings were initiated in accordance with established protocols.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a five-time MP from Baharampur, faced defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against TMC’s candidate, former cricketer Yusuf Pathan. Subsequently, the Congress fielded him again in the 2026 assembly elections from the same constituency, where he faced another defeat.
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