By Subir Bhaumik BBC correspondent in Calcutta

Armed men have attacked an Indian minister during an election campaign in the state of West Bengal.

Political temperature is on the rise

The minister, Tapan Sikdar, sustained cut wounds and his car was smashed.

He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is a member of the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led Indian Government.

Elections are due next week in more than 50,000 village councils in West Bengal.

Police said Mr Sikdar's convoy was attacked near Madhyamgram, north of Calcutta, just before midday.

The attackers slashed at him with razors and other sharp weapons and Mr Sikdar sustained cuts on his torso and around his neck.

His security guards opened fire to save him but some people travelling with the minister sustained wounds.

Doctors now say he is out of danger.

Political violence

Mr Sikdar has been a minister in the Indian Government for nearly five years and is minister in charge of the north-eastern states.

Tension prevailed in the northern suburbs of the West Bengal capital, Calcutta, after the attack.

BJP activists blocked the main highway leading to the Calcutta international airport in protest against the attack.

The BJP has blamed the state's ruling Communists for the attack on Mr Sikdar.

A party's spokesman said the Communists have been alarmed by the renewed political alliance between the BJP and the state's main opposition party, Trinamul Congress.

They allege that has led to growing violence perpetrated by Communist activists.

The Communists however blame factional fighting within the BJP's state unit for the attack on Mr Sikdar.

Nearly 10 people, both Communist and opposition activists, have in the past month in political clashes during campaigning for the village council elections.