Violence and incidents of vandalism were reported from several locations — including Chapra, Shantipur, and Bhangar — early Wednesday as voting began for Phase 2 of the Bengal elections. According to Press Trust of India, BJP candidate from the Entally seat, Priyanka Tibrewal, got into a heated argument with polling officials and security personnel after her polling agent was removed from a booth due to limited space. A Trinamool representative also joined the dispute, and eventually both were asked to leave. Tibrewal alleged irregularities, claiming multiple individuals were inside influencing voting.

In Chapra, another BJP polling agent was allegedly attacked by individuals linked to the Trinamool Congress at booth number 53 in Nadia district. The injured agent, Mosharef Mir, was taken to a hospital. He claimed that more than a dozen attackers, one reportedly armed, assaulted him with rods. BJP candidate Saikat Sarkar accused Trinamool workers of the attack, stating Mir suffered head injuries. Police have registered a case, while the Trinamool has denied involvement. There were also reports of malfunctioning electronic voting machines in Howrah. A video circulated by PTI showed a man being dragged away by paramilitary personnel and police, while another individual appeared to be beaten with batons by armed security forces.

EVMs have long been a point of contention between the BJP and opposition parties, with the latter often alleging tampering. However, the Election Commission of India has consistently maintained that the machines are secure. In Shantipur, furniture at a BJP camp was damaged, escalating tensions. In Bhangar, claims emerged that a polling agent from the Indian Secular Front was blocked from entering a polling station.

The incidents prompted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to accuse central security forces of acting in favor of the BJP. She alleged that forces were targeting her party’s supporters and interfering with the electoral process. Banerjee also criticized the presence of external observers, suggesting they were biased and influencing the conduct of the election. Her nephew and senior party leader Abhishek Banerjee echoed similar concerns, claiming that observers had overstepped their authority after he cast his vote in Bhabanipur.

Bhabanipur, a Trinamool stronghold, has been won by Mamata Banerjee in previous elections. The 2026 contest here is a closely watched battle between her and former ally-turned-opponent Suvendu Adhikari. This marks the final phase of the Bengal elections, following the first round held on April 23. Results are scheduled to be announced on May 4. The election is being conducted amid controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which led to the removal of over 90 lakh names. The Trinamool has alleged this move was aimed at disenfranchising its supporters, while the BJP and the Election Commission have rejected the claim. The first phase of polling recorded a high voter turnout of 92.88 percent.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.