<p>Four candidates who won the panchayat elections in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district alleged that they were kidnapped by supporters of the TMC, a charge denied by the state's ruling party.</p>.<p>TMC MLA of Canning Purba Saokat Molla claimed the three BJP candidates and a CPI(M)-backed Independent nominee wanted to join the TMC on their own, influenced by the development initiatives undertaken by the Mamata Banerjee government.</p>.<p>BJP nominees Puja Chhatui, Kamala Mandal and Sushanta Mandal, and Independent candidate Narayan Haldar of Krishnachandrapur panchayat in Mathurapur went missing on Thursday, their families alleged.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/bjp-claims-tmc-govt-responsible-for-dengue-spread-in-bengal-1242241.html">BJP claims TMC govt responsible for dengue spread in Bengal</a></strong></p>.<p>In a video, which went viral on social media on Saturday, they claimed that they were safe and staying at a location in Sundarban, and would return home when the panchayat's board is formed in mid-August. However, they returned home on Sunday.</p>.<p>After returning home, they told reporters that they were kidnapped and taken to a house in Sundarban.</p>.<p>"We were forced to sign a blank page, and also make that scripted video," Haldar said, adding that the kidnappers let them leave on Saturday night.</p>.<p>Senior CPIM leader Kanti Ganguly alleged that the TMC kidnapped the four candidates to form the board of the panchayat as it could not manage a majority in the elections, but it gave up sensing trouble.</p>.<p>BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the turn events exposed TMC's "little faith" in democracy.</p>.<p>"TMC tried to capture the panchayat. But, alarmed by sustained media coverage about the incident, the TMC's leadership asked the district functionaries to release them," he claimed.</p>.<p>TMC MLA Molla, however, claimed these four candidates wanted to join the ruling party but understanding that they would not be inducted, they cooked up the story.</p>.<p>TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Why should the TMC be involved in such a practice? It is the hallmark of BJP in government formation in some states."</p>
<p>Four candidates who won the panchayat elections in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district alleged that they were kidnapped by supporters of the TMC, a charge denied by the state's ruling party.</p>.<p>TMC MLA of Canning Purba Saokat Molla claimed the three BJP candidates and a CPI(M)-backed Independent nominee wanted to join the TMC on their own, influenced by the development initiatives undertaken by the Mamata Banerjee government.</p>.<p>BJP nominees Puja Chhatui, Kamala Mandal and Sushanta Mandal, and Independent candidate Narayan Haldar of Krishnachandrapur panchayat in Mathurapur went missing on Thursday, their families alleged.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/bjp-claims-tmc-govt-responsible-for-dengue-spread-in-bengal-1242241.html">BJP claims TMC govt responsible for dengue spread in Bengal</a></strong></p>.<p>In a video, which went viral on social media on Saturday, they claimed that they were safe and staying at a location in Sundarban, and would return home when the panchayat's board is formed in mid-August. However, they returned home on Sunday.</p>.<p>After returning home, they told reporters that they were kidnapped and taken to a house in Sundarban.</p>.<p>"We were forced to sign a blank page, and also make that scripted video," Haldar said, adding that the kidnappers let them leave on Saturday night.</p>.<p>Senior CPIM leader Kanti Ganguly alleged that the TMC kidnapped the four candidates to form the board of the panchayat as it could not manage a majority in the elections, but it gave up sensing trouble.</p>.<p>BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the turn events exposed TMC's "little faith" in democracy.</p>.<p>"TMC tried to capture the panchayat. But, alarmed by sustained media coverage about the incident, the TMC's leadership asked the district functionaries to release them," he claimed.</p>.<p>TMC MLA Molla, however, claimed these four candidates wanted to join the ruling party but understanding that they would not be inducted, they cooked up the story.</p>.<p>TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Why should the TMC be involved in such a practice? It is the hallmark of BJP in government formation in some states."</p>