Trinamool councillor arrested for disrupting Adhir Chowdhury's Berhampore campaign
Synopsis
A Trinamool Congress ward councillor and youth district president has been arrested in Berhampore for allegedly disrupting Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's Assembly campaign — a politically charged move that has triggered vendetta allegations from the TMC, coming after the BJP's rise to power in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Bhishmadev Karmakar , TMC councillor of Ward No.
19 in Berhampore and youth Trinamool Congress president of Murshidabad organisational district , was arrested on Saturday night .
The arrest is linked to an alleged disruption of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's rally in Baharampur on 4 April during the Assembly election campaign.
Karmakar had denied the allegations, claiming Chowdhury was attempting to create unrest by bringing in outsiders.
TMC leaders allege the arrest is politically motivated and follows the BJP coming to power in West Bengal .
Police denied vendetta claims, stating action was taken strictly based on the complaint filed over the 4 April incident.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury , a five-time MP from Baharampur , lost both the 2024 Lok Sabha election and the 2026 Assembly election in the same constituency.
Police in Berhampore, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, have arrested Trinamool Congress councillor Bhishmadev Karmakar over allegations that he obstructed Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's Assembly election campaign rally on 4 April. The arrest was made on Saturday night, based on a written complaint filed during the election campaign period, according to a senior officer of the Murshidabad Police district.
Who Was Arrested and Why
Bhishmadev Karmakar is the councillor of Ward No. 19 in Berhampore municipality and also serves as the youth Trinamool Congress president of the Murshidabad organisational district. He was arrested by Berhampore police in connection with the 4 April incident, when Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was campaigning as a Congress candidate in the Baharampur Assembly constituency.
According to the complaint, Karmakar allegedly obstructed Chowdhury's rally, during which
Point of View
But the political optics are hard to separate: West Bengal's history of post-election retribution, across party lines, is well-documented. What is notable here is that the complainant, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, has himself suffered consecutive electoral defeats in Baharampur — first to Yusuf Pathan in 2024 and again in the 2026 Assembly polls — making the arrest feel less like a vindication and more like a footnote in a rapidly shifting political landscape. The deeper question is whether West Bengal's new dispensation will apply the same procedural rigour to complaints filed against its own workers.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Trinamool councillor Bhishmadev Karmakar arrested?
Bhishmadev Karmakar was arrested by Berhampore police on Saturday night in connection with allegations that he obstructed Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's Assembly election campaign rally in Baharampur on 4 April. Police stated the action was based on a written complaint filed during the election campaign period.
Who is Bhishmadev Karmakar?
Bhishmadev Karmakar is the Trinamool Congress councillor of Ward No. 19 in Berhampore municipality and also serves as the youth Trinamool Congress president of the Murshidabad organisational district in West Bengal.
What happened during Adhir Chowdhury's rally on 4 April?
On 4 April, during peak campaigning for the Assembly elections, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury held a rally in the Baharampur Assembly constituency. Karmakar was accused of obstructing the rally, during which 'Go back' slogans were allegedly raised against Chowdhury, prompting police intervention to prevent further escalation.
Why is the TMC alleging political vendetta?
Trinamool Congress supporters and local leaders alleged that the arrest was made after the BJP came to power in West Bengal, and that TMC workers and leaders across the state were being targeted for political reasons. Police denied these claims, maintaining the arrest was strictly based on the April 4 complaint.
What is Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's political background?
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is a five-time Member of Parliament from Baharampur. He lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election to Trinamool Congress candidate and former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan, and was subsequently defeated again when Congress fielded him from the same constituency in the 2026 Assembly elections.
