KOLKATA: Rival camps of Trinamool and BJP squared off in a charged atmosphere outside Alipore Survey Building on Monday as the heavyweight candidates submitted their nomination papers. The situation looked less like an administrative exercise and more like a dress rehearsal for a high-stakes political showdown later this month.What began as routine nomination day proceedings quickly escalated into a tense stand-off, with hundreds of supporters from both sides converging outside the Survey Building, raising slogans and attempting to outnumber each other in a symbolic show of strength. The situation turned volatile enough as the police and central forces stepped in, physically separating rival groups and clearing the area.The flashpoint, according to officials, was the sheer volume of supporters accompanying candidates. With poll guidelines tightening crowd control, police set up multiple checkpoints and enforced strict limits on how many could enter the premises with each candidate. The move, however, drew sharp reactions from netas across party lines.Minister and Ballygunge TMC candidate Sovandeb Chattopadhyay did not mince words. “It looks like we are under military rule now. Till last year, my son was allowed to come with me as I submitted nomination papers. This year, he has been barred,” he said, adding that even his trusted aides were stopped from the building.BJP’s Tollygunge candidate, actor Papiya Adhikari, alleged that BJP supporters were also prevented from entering and some were detained. Some of her party workers allegedly clashed with police during the melee.Mayor and Kolkata Port candidate Firhad Hakim, Rashbehari candidate Debasish Kumar and CPM’s Jadavpur candidate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya also arrived to file nominations under heavy security cover.Sources said a large number of TMC heavyweights submitted their nominations on Monday as they wanted to wrap up the process before CM Mamata Banerjee files her nomination on Wednesday and also to be part of her first roadshow in her seat this year.In Beleghata, TMC candidate Kunal Ghosh led a colorful procession with a women’s dhak ensemble before filing his nomination.In Bidhannagar, TMC’s Sujit Bose, after submitting his papers, expressed confidence in returning to office. BJP’s Santosh Pathak, after filing his nomination, said it was the “first step towards change in Bengal.” In Howrah, the situation turned near-chaos as clashes broke out between TMC and Left supporters outside the DM’s office.
