Violence, vandalism, and technical disruptions marked the early hours of polling in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Wednesday, raising concerns over the conduct of a free and fair electoral process.
The BJP alleged that its polling agent, Mosharef Mir, was assaulted by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters at a booth in Chapra, Nadia district. According to party leaders, the agent was attacked shortly after mock polling began and sustained head injuries. Mir claimed a group of 15–16 individuals assaulted him, with one allegedly carrying a firearm.
Tensions escalated in multiple districts. In Shantipur, a BJP camp office was vandalised, while in Bhangar, an ISF polling agent was reportedly prevented from entering a booth. The ISF accused rival party workers of snatching agent credentials and blocking women voters from casting their ballots.
In Hooghly, clashes broke out over allegations of fake polling agents being deployed. Meanwhile, an alleged EVM malfunction in Bally triggered unrest, prompting central forces to detain two individuals after a brief lathi-charge.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused central forces of acting at the behest of the BJP, alleging intimidation and interference in the voting process. She questioned the deployment strategy and claimed voters were being harassed.
On the other hand, BJP leaders accused TMC supporters of orchestrating violence to influence polling outcomes.
Amid the tension, the high-stakes contest in Bhabanipur—between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari—remains the focal point of the election. Adhikari claimed Banerjee would lose by a significant margin, intensifying the political rhetoric.
Despite disruptions, voter turnout reached 18.4% by 9 AM, with polling underway across 142 constituencies.
