Birbhum: Basudeb Acharia, CPM veteran and nine-time MP from Bankura, was severely beaten with bamboo sticks, allegedly by a group of Trinamul workers in front of police on Friday while leading a group to file their nominations for the panchayat polls.

The assault comes a day after chief minister Mamata Banerjee met her predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to enquire about his health. On the same day, a seven-time CPM parliamentarian, Ram Chandra Dome, was assaulted in Birbhum.

Acharia, 75, and Satya Bauri, a former CPM legislator from Kashipur, were leading around 100 party candidates to the Kashipur block development office.

"They repeatedly hit Basudebda with bamboo sticks and poked him in the abdomen with them. He became almost senseless," said Pradip Roy, the CPM district secretary in Purulia, adding that the assault had taken place in front of the police.

Acharia was admitted to the critical care unit of the Purulia Deben Mahato District Hospital.

Trinamul secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said: "Our party workers were not involved in these incidents. We don't believe in such politics."

Purulia SP Joy Biswas contested the allegation that Acharia was beaten up in front of the police, and said an investigation had started.

Sujan Chakraborty, Left legislature party leader in the Assembly, said: "The chief minister is trying to highlight the politics of courtesy by visiting Buddhada while her party workers are attacking veterans like Basuda and Ramda.#Both these leaders are respected for their honesty, humility and contribution to politics.... It's a shame."

Trinamul insiders conceded that the attacks on such senior Opposition leaders were "acts of foolishness".

"Both Acharia and Dome have a clean image. During their long stint as parliamentarians, they proved their worth and they are respected even in other parties... Attacking such people are acts of foolishness," said a Trinamul minister.