Voting for the crucial second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections began amid allegations of violence after the BJP claimed one of its booth agents was attacked in the Nadia district.
BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar alleged that the incident took place in the Nadia-Chhapra constituency, where a party polling agent was reportedly assaulted before voting commenced. According to BJP leaders, the attack was carried out to intimidate booth-level workers and disrupt the party’s election operations in the area.
BJP Accuses TMC of Targeting Poll Workers
Reacting strongly to the incident, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of creating an atmosphere of fear in minority-dominated areas to prevent BJP workers from functioning freely.
He claimed that booth agents were being deliberately targeted in order to weaken BJP’s polling presence in sensitive constituencies and demanded immediate intervention by election authorities.
The BJP has urged the Election Commission and police officials to take strict action against those involved and ensure the safety of polling agents throughout the election process.
Heavy Voting Recorded in Early Hours
Despite reports of tension, voting began across all 142 constituencies under tight security arrangements.
By 9 a.m., West Bengal had recorded a voter turnout of over 18 per cent, with some districts witnessing even stronger participation.
Purba Bardhaman reported the highest turnout in the opening hours, followed closely by Hooghly and Nadia, indicating a strong voter response in this phase of polling.
Kolkata and adjoining districts also saw a steady turnout as voters arrived early at polling stations.
Massive Electoral Exercise Underway
The second phase of the West Bengal elections is being viewed as politically significant, especially because it covers several key constituencies in South Bengal and Kolkata, areas traditionally seen as strongholds of the Trinamool Congress.
More than 1,400 candidates are contesting in this phase, with polling taking place across over 41,000 polling booths.
Election authorities have deployed extensive security forces to maintain order, while thousands of polling stations are being managed by women officials as part of special election arrangements.
Political Stakes High for BJP and TMC
The BJP and the Trinamool Congress remain the two principal contenders in the West Bengal election battle, making this phase a decisive test for both parties.
Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari visited polling booths in Bhabanipur, while TMC leaders also actively monitored the voting process.
With tensions already surfacing on polling day, the political atmosphere remains highly charged as parties fight for dominance in one of the country’s most closely watched state elections.
