Guwahati: Kishor Nath, the BJP candidate from Barkhola in Assam’s Cachar district, was detained on Wednesday night in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal over allegations of distributing cash to voters.
According to reports, Nath had travelled to Hingalganj to campaign for BJP candidate Rekha Patra when local residents allegedly caught him distributing Rs 5,000 in cash under the cover of darkness. He was reportedly intercepted along with his vehicle, following which police from Hingalganj Police Station reached the spot and detained him.
A video purportedly showing the incident has since circulated widely on social media, drawing attention in Assam’s Barak Valley, particularly in Cachar district.
Nath, however, denied the allegations, calling them baseless. He said he had visited the area to attend a temple and claimed that a BJP worker accompanying him was handing over Rs 5,000 to a kirtan committee, not to voters.
He also alleged that members of a rival political party had orchestrated the incident to defame him and spread misinformation. Nath further stated that he himself alerted the police after the situation turned tense.
Police officials have yet to issue a detailed statement on the matter. An investigation is underway.