Amidst the final phase of Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal witnessed widespread violence, marred by clashes and contentious incidents.
The Election Commission reported receiving over 715 complaints by 9 am, encompassing a range of issues including malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs), agents being prevented from accessing polling booths, and voters allegedly facing threats or intimidation across different constituencies.
Polling was conducted in nine constituencies of West Bengal, all under stringent security measures. The areas included Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, and Kolkata Uttar. Despite security arrangements, various incidents unfolded throughout the day.
In Bhangar, located within the Jadavpur constituency, clashes erupted between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), resulting in the hurling of crude bombs. Police intervention was necessary to quell the situation, with allegations and counter-allegations exchanged between the involved parties. Additionally, clashes between TMC and ISF workers occurred in the Phulbari area of Bhangar, leading to further confrontations.
In another concerning incident, at booth numbers 40 and 41 in Kultali, South 24 Parganas district, an EVM and a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine were reportedly thrown into water. However, the Election Commission clarified that these were reserve machines, ensuring that the polling process remained unaffected. An investigation has been initiated, with the Election Commission seeking a report from the presiding officer regarding the incident.
Further aggravating the situation, incidents of violence were reported from Canning in South 24 Parganas district, where three voters sustained head injuries allegedly inflicted by TMC workers.
The confrontations extended to several constituencies, with CPIM and BJP candidates facing challenges at polling booths. CPIM candidate Pratik ur Rahman in Diamond Harbour constituency reportedly apprehended fake voters and agents, while BJP candidate Debasree Chaudhuri in Kolkata Dakshin constituency confronted outsiders at polling booths.
TMC’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, cast his vote in Kolkata Dakshin constituency, expressing hope for a high voter turnout and emphasizing the significance of the election in reflecting public sentiment towards the ruling government.
Meanwhile, in Sandeshkhali, the BJP alleged intimidation by TMC workers and police, sharing video evidence of purported threats to polling agents. BJP’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, highlighted the resilience of local women in the face of alleged intimidation, pledging to continue the fight against perceived injustice.
A total of 1.63 crore voters, comprising 83.19 lakh men, 80.20 lakh women, and 538 individuals identifying as third gender, are eligible to cast their votes across 17,470 polling stations in West Bengal.
