The political climate in Asansol has reached a boiling point ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vijay Sankalp’ rally at Polo Ground. A massive controversy erupted after nearly 200 bus bookings in the Kulti Assembly area were abruptly cancelled just hours before the event, leading to a fierce standoff between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The BJP has alleged that this is a pre-planned move by the ruling TMC to prevent party supporters from reaching the venue. District General Secretary Keshab Poddar slammed the move, claiming that bus owners were intimidated by the TMC-affiliated labor wing, INTTUC. The saffron party pointed fingers directly at Abhijit Ghatak, brother of Minister Moloy Ghatak and INTTUC District Secretary, accusing him of orchestrating this “undemocratic blockade.”

TMC leadership has dismissed these allegations as “baseless,” stating that the party has no role in the bus owners’ private decisions. They countered by claiming that the BJP is attempting to cover up its own organizational failures. Amidst this political slugfest, common commuters in the industrial belt have been hit hard due to the sudden disruption in transport services.