Kolkata, Sept. 23 -- Senior BJP leader and state Health minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee was involved in a verbal exchange with fellow party MLA Pijush Kanoria during a 'Bidhaoyekar Darbar' (MLAs' Darbar) in Dum Dum on Tuesday, causing embarrassment within the party.

The incident took place at Ward 28 of Dum Dum municipality, which falls under Mukherjee's Assembly constituency. Mukherjee was hearing public grievances when Kanoria, MLA from the adjoining Rajarhat-New Town constituency, arrived at the meeting.

Mukherjee was going through complaint letters alleging widespread extortion and syndicate activities by a section of people. He said the complaints would be examined seriously and asserted that the party would not tolerate any form of syndicate raj. He also said people should have the freedom to choose where they procure construction materials from and nobody would be allowed to put pressure on them.

After attending the meeting, Kanoria sat among the audience. Mukherjee asked him to join him on the dais, but Kanoria declined, saying he was not the local MLA. A verbal exchange subsequently took place between the two leaders.

Kanoria said he had never allowed syndicate activities and questioned why some people who had earlier not been allowed to join the BJP were now being inducted into the party. He also questioned why a person who had allegedly threatened the BJP during the Trinamool Congress regime was being allowed to join the saffron camp.

The development comes amid repeated warnings by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya to party leaders and MLAs against alleged extortion and other activities that could bring disrepute to the organisation.

In a parallel development, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul and Health Minister Mukherjee to stop showing "over-activity on the streets" and focus on their respective departmental offices.

Adhikari told the ministers that managing their departments was their primary responsibility and that substantial administrative work should be carried out from their offices.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.