Mamata Banerjee Accuses BJP of Attempting to 'Forcefully Rig' West Bengal Assembly Elections
Voting underway in crucial second phase across 142 constituencies; TMC chief alleges interference by central forces and poll observers
L'essentiel
- TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, contesting from Bhabanipur, accused the BJP of attempting to forcefully rig the West Bengal assembly elections during the crucial second phase voting across 142 constituencies.
- Banerjee alleged widespread interference by central forces, claiming CRPF personnel vandalized a TMC councillor's home and that officials brought from outside were acting at the BJP's behest.
- Over 3.2 crore electors are eligible to vote across 41,001 polling stations, with results due on May 4.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
This is the second and final phase of West Bengal assembly elections covering 142 constituencies, including the crucial Bhabanipur seat where TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is in a direct contest with BJP's Suvendu Adhikari. The first phase covering 106 constituencies took place earlier. The election is being viewed as a crucial test for both TMC and BJP.
NEW DELHI: TMC supremo and candidate from Bhabanipur Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of attempting to “forcefully rig” the West Bengal assembly elections as voting got underway in the crucial second and final phase across 142 constituencies.
Addressing reporters in Kolkata, Banerjee alleged widespread interference by central forces and poll observers. “Votes will be cast by voters, not by the police or security forces… the BJP wants to forcefully rig the election,” she said, claiming that officials brought in from outside the state were acting at the BJP’s behest. She further alleged that CRPF personnel vandalised the home of a councillor and that TMC workers were attacked overnight, describing the situation as “terrorism” and “hooliganism”.
BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari meanwhile urged voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers. Locked in a direct contest with Banerjee in Bhabanipur, Adhikari expressed confidence in the party’s prospects and called the election a decisive moment for the state.
TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also raised concerns over the conduct of election observers, accusing them of flouting guidelines and acting under political pressure. He said such “tricks” would not affect the final outcome and predicted that the BJP’s seat tally would fall sharply, pointing to past elections where its projections failed to materialise.
Polling began at 7am across key districts including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas, with voters queuing up early at several booths. More than 3.2 crore electors are eligible to vote, with 41,001 polling stations under tight security and webcasting surveillance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters to turn out in record numbers, particularly urging women and young people to participate and strengthen democracy.
The phase is seen as decisive, covering the TMC’s traditional stronghold in south Bengal, where it had dominated in 2021. For the BJP, making gains here remains critical to mounting a serious challenge.
Voting will continue till 6pm, with results due on May 4.
À surveiller
Perspective IA — des possibilités, pas des certitudes
TMC will likely retain power in Bhabanipur constituency based on Banerjee's incumbency advantage
Probable · En quelques semaines
Election commission may need to address allegations of observer misconduct
Très probable · En quelques jours
Post-election disputes and potential legal challenges are likely
Probable · En quelques semaines
Questions ouvertes
- Will the election observers investigate the allegations made by TMC leaders?
- What evidence does the TMC have of CRPF vandalism?
- How will the alleged interference affect voter turnout in the remaining constituencies?
