West Bengal, already marked by violence in the first four phases of the Lok Sabha elections, has seen a significant increase in incidents during the fifth phase. Reports of assaults, intimidation, and hospitalisations of BJP workers surfaced within the initial hours of polling.
According to reports, 471 complaints were filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) within the first two hours of polling. The BJP lodged 22 complaints, the CPI-M filed 25, and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) submitted 30 complaints.
Violence erupted in Howrah’s Salkia hours before polling commenced at 7 AM. The BJP accused TMC members of assaulting its workers during the chaos.
BJP candidate Arjun Singh claimed that TMC workers in Barrackpore were intimidating voters and threatened to kill him. “They even threatened to shoot me,” he stated.
Media reports indicate that TMC workers heckled Arjun Singh in Kanchrapara after he accused a TMC polling agent of being an “outsider.” Singh had gone to verify a woman’s complaint that she was being prevented from voting. The police intervened to control the situation.
In Howrah’s Liluah, a presiding official at polling station 176 was allegedly assaulted by polling agents over a delay in starting the voting process, which began over an hour late. The poll body has requested an action taken report.
In Kalyani, voters were reportedly threatened to discourage them from voting. A BJP worker attacked in Gayeshpur was hospitalised at Kalyani-AIIMS. BJP candidate Shantanu Thakur later visited the injured worker.
In Dhanekhali village, BJP candidate from Hooghly, Locket Chatterjee, accused TMC agents at a “voter sahayata Kendra” of urging people to vote for TMC candidate Rachana Banerjee. A verbal altercation between TMC workers and Chatterjee ensued at one booth. Chatterjee alleged that TMC bribed an ASHA worker to act as a polling agent.
“She [the ASHA worker] has been instructed to ask people to vote for Rachana. She is a Trinamool agent working as an assistant in booths,” Chatterjee told reporters.
The BJP accused TMC workers of blocking voters in Hooghly and “jamming booths” in North Howrah.
In Jangipara, a central paramilitary force jawan was tied to a lamp post and assaulted over allegations of sexually harassing a woman. In Uluberia, a BSF jawan was removed from duty over similar allegations. The Bengal Police are investigating both incidents.
BJP’s camp in Serampore was vandalised, prompting security forces to remain on high alert.
In Arambagh’s Khanakul town, BJP Panchayat Deputy Head Tapan Bagh was attacked amid clashes with TMC workers, suffering severe head injuries. The police detained two individuals in connection with the attack.
Clashes also broke out between BJP candidates and TMC workers in North 24 Parganas. Four BJP workers, including a woman, were severely injured in Swaroopnagar.
The fifth phase of voting, which began at 7 AM on May 20, will determine the fate of candidates in seven Lok Sabha constituencies: Bangaon, Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Srerampur, Hooghly, and Arambagh.
