Tensions rose in the initial phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections when BJP candidate Debashish Ojha’s election agent, Bishwajit Mandal, was reportedly assaulted in Birbhum’s Labpur constituency. This incident occurred amidst reports of sporadic violence and allegations of booth capturing in various parts of the state during the ongoing polling. Mandal described the attack, mentioning that he was surrounded and attacked on his way back from a booth where alleged booth capturing was taking place.
The Election Commission has acknowledged the incident and is monitoring the situation closely. In a separate incident in South Dinajpur’s Kumarganj, where a BJP candidate was also attacked, the Election Commission has ordered the immediate arrest of those involved in the violence captured in visuals. These incidents underscore the escalating tensions in specific constituencies as the election process unfolds, despite the heavy security presence across the state.
Another disturbance was reported in Murshidabad’s Nawada Assembly constituency involving Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir. A confrontation erupted between Kabir and local Trinamool Congress leaders near a polling booth, with both sides accusing each other of instigating trouble. Kabir alleged hooliganism by TMC workers, vowing to ensure peaceful voting, while a local resident accused him of provoking unrest.
The ongoing polling in 152 Assembly constituencies across 16 districts of West Bengal has witnessed significant voter turnout in various areas. However, incidents like these have raised concerns about the maintenance of law and order during the electoral process, as clashes and violence between political workers persist in some regions.
