Bengal bypolls: TMC worker killed, sporadic incidents of violence reported

Sporadic incidents of unrest marred the West Bengal bypolls, with a local TMC worker Ashok Shaw dying following a crude bomb attack in Bhatpara, an area adjoining Naihati assembly constituency where voting was underway.

The attack sparked political accusations of voter intimidation in the ongoing byelections. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has sought a report regarding the incident.

According to the CEO’s office, polling remained largely peaceful in the by-elections to Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, and Taldangra assembly constituencies with a voter turnout of over 45 per cent recorded till 1 pm.

According to the poll panel, 41 complaints were filed till 9 am, including 16 from the BJP.

The BJP and opposition have accused TMC workers of engaging in voter intimidation in various areas, particularly in Haroa, Madarihat, Sitai, and Taldangra constituencies. The state's ruling party has dubbed the allegations as baseless.

In Madarihat, BJP candidate Rahul Lohar’s car was reportedly vandalised.

Sources said Rahul had gone to Mujnai, under Madarihat gram panchayat, to meet BJP workers when he encountered protests from TMC supporters. His car was blocked, and stones were allegedly hurled at it, sources added.

TMC supporters claimed that BJP MP and former MLA Manoj Tigga had not been seen in the area in the past five years, nor had any development work been done. Lohar also faced chants of "Go back" from the crowd.

Tension erupted at a booth in Sitai, Cooch Behar, following allegations that two buttons on an EVM machine had been covered with tape.

BJP candidate Deepak Roy claimed that at the polling booth in Hokdah Adabari SSK Primary School, tape was found covering the first two buttons on the EVM.

Roy accused the presiding officer and other poll workers of negligence, stating, “This is a serious violation of the election process.” He then entered the booth himself and removed the tape from the EVM, which led to a commotion inside the booth. A heated exchange followed between Roy and the presiding officer, sources added.

The Trinamool Congress, however, alleged that voting had been proceeding peacefully until the BJP candidate’s arrival, which they claimed disrupted the process and accused him of stirring trouble.

Meanwhile, the Indian Secular Front (ISF), which has one MLA in the state assembly and is contesting from the Haroa seat as a Left Front-supported candidate, also reported interference, claiming TMC workers were preventing its polling agents from entering certain booths in Haroa.

The ISF’s allegations have added to the charged atmosphere, with both opposition and ruling party members exchanging accusations throughout the day.