1. Clashes between TMC and BJP marred the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in West Bengal.
2. Violence erupted in areas like Chandmari near Cooch Behar town, resulting in injuries.
3. Stone-throwing incidents were reported as voting commenced for three out of the state’s 42 seats.
Kolkata, April 19: The Lok Sabha election in West Bengal’s first phase was marred by clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as voting commenced for three out of the state’s 42 seats at 7 am on Friday.
Incidents of violence erupted almost immediately, with clashes reported between supporters of the two parties in areas such as Chandmari near Cooch Behar town, where at least one person was injured. Stone-throwing incidents were also documented.
Anant Barman, a local TMC functionary, was hospitalized following an alleged crude bomb attack at Bhetaguri. State minister Udayan Guha visited Barman in the hospital.
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In the previous 2019 elections, the BJP secured victories in all three seats—Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri—that were part of the first phase. By 9 am, voting percentages stood at 15.2% in Cooch Behar, 15.91% in Alipurduar, and 14.13% in Jalpaiguri.
Both the TMC and BJP levied accusations against each other, citing voter intimidation, obstruction of polling booth access, and assaults on booth agents. In areas like Toofanganj in Cooch Behar and Dabgram-Fulbari in Jalpaiguri, incidents of temporary election office arson were reported.
According to an official from the West Bengal governor’s office, the majority of complaints regarding poll violence and voter intimidation originated from Cooch Behar.
The region has a history of electoral violence, with five casualties, including a first-time voter, during the April 2021 assembly elections in Cooch Behar. Additionally, clashes have erupted between supporters of Union Minister Nisith Pramanik and State Minister Udayan Guha.
In response to the unrest, the BJP established a helpline at its Kolkata office to address complaints of poll violence.
TMC functionaries noted that the party’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, was overseeing voting proceedings from Kolkata.
