Rourkela, Dec. 30: Supporters of BJD and BJP today clashed over distribution of old-age, widow and disability welfare pension under the state government's Madhubabu Pension Yojana here.

The BJP accused the government of politicising the function by inviting a minister and not the local MLA.

The event, organised by Rourkela Municipality, was originally set to take place on January 4. However, the BJP alleged that the civic body changed the schedule at the last moment to hold the event today and invited textiles and handicrafts minister Snehangini Chhuria.

Speaking to The Telegraph, BJP district president Dhiren Senapati said: "The local MLA, Dilip Ray, was supposed to distribute the pension on January 4, as per the original schedule. However, the civic body changed the schedule to keep their political masters happy."

Senapati said: "We were not opposed to the distribution, but why should the minister be present when it was not in the original programme?"

More than 1,840 new old-age, widow and disabled pensioners were supposed to receive their pension from Chhuria today. The minister was here today to inaugurate the Special Handloom Expo-2015.

Around 60 to 70 BJP supporters, led by Senapati, reached the venue to protest against the rescheduling of the event and the minister's presence. When around 200 BJD workers, who were present there, opposed the BJP's protest, they clashed with each other.

However, normalcy was shortly restored as the minister could not turn up at the venue allegedly due to a sudden change in her itinerary.

Uditnagar police station inspector in-charge S. Muduli said: "We have not arrested anybody as no complaint has been lodged with us."

However, the civic body ran the show even in the absence of the minister. Some 442 beneficiaries received their pension today, which was given away by the municipal commissioner.

BJD district president Ananda Mohanty said: "Their behaviour reflected their frustration. They cannot tolerate the good work we are doing here."

"This was a government programme. How can you say no to the presence of the minister?" said Mohanty.

Rourkela Municipality commissioner Durga Prasad Mohapatra tried to downplay the whole issue.

"I cannot say much about the reason behind the BJP's opposition, but the January 4 date was only in the discussion stage," he said.