A massive internal rift has erupted within the BJP in Malda’s Vaishnavnagar constituency ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections. Local party workers and supporters staged a violent protest in front of the BJP office on Friday, burning tyres and raising slogans against the party’s nominated candidate, Raju Karmakar. The primary grievance of the protesters is that the candidate is an “outsider” with no connection to the local organizational structure.

The disgruntled workers alleged that Karmakar is not a resident of the Vaishnavnagar block and does not even know the names of the local booth presidents. Sensationally, some leaders claimed that the ticket was sold in exchange for money. Apurba Mondal, a local activist, stated, “This is our winning seat with a strong organizational base. We want a local candidate who understands our block. Bringing in an outsider puts our 100% winning chance at risk.”

Echoing this sentiment, BJP leader Jagai Ghosh launched a scathing attack, alleging financial irregularities in the ticket distribution. “We are ready to accept even a ‘banana tree’ as a representative if it’s from our organization, but not this outsider. We will go on a hunger strike if the candidate is not changed immediately,” he warned. While the top brass of the BJP has remained silent so far, sources suggest that there are currently no plans to revise the candidate list, leading to a high-voltage standoff within the saffron camp.