Allegations of violence and claims of EVM tampering marred the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress engaged in a heated political contest during the voting across 142 Assembly constituencies. The BJP accused Trinamool Congress workers of attacking its polling agents at various booths.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo expressed concerns over the reported violence incidents during the ongoing polling. He highlighted that despite the Election Commission’s strict monitoring, unfortunate incidents were occurring in a democratic setup. Shah Deo also criticized the Trinamool Congress for resorting to violence out of frustration.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari condemned the reported violence incidents, labeling them as very unfortunate. He emphasized the need to uphold the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution, especially in the face of attempts to undermine them in West Bengal. Ansari expressed confidence in the public’s desire for change and the potential for a BJP-led government in the state.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma joined the chorus of criticism against the alleged violence in West Bengal. He described such actions as an “old habit” that needed to be curbed, stressing the importance of conveying this message to the responsible parties. Sharma underlined the necessity to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
A controversy arose at booth number 177 in the Falta Assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas district, where a BJP candidate alleged tampering with the EVM by placing tape over the party’s symbol. Central forces intervened, removed the tape, and ensured the resumption of voting. Despite the tight security measures in place, the Election Commission and central forces remained vigilant amid the escalating tensions in the state.
