Kolkata: Clashes broke out between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP during re-polling in 15 booths in West Bengal, escalating tensions in an already contentious electoral process.
The re-polling had been ordered following allegations of irregularities in earlier voting across constituencies in the South 24 Parganas district. Fresh voting began at 7 am in 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four booths in Diamond Harbour, but the process was quickly overshadowed by violence and confrontation between rival political groups.
The unrest reportedly stemmed from protests linked to allegations that Trinamool Congress workers had intimidated voters ahead of the counting scheduled for Monday. The situation soon spiralled into clashes, prompting police to intervene with a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Several individuals were taken into custody as authorities struggled to contain the escalation.
Serious accusations were raised on multiple fronts. The BJP alleged that certain voters were being prevented from casting their votes, while local residents voiced strong criticism against Trinamool Congress workers, particularly over concerns related to threats and the safety of women voters. These allegations further deepened the mistrust surrounding the re-polling exercise.
Amid the volatile situation, a heavy security deployment was carried out to restore order and ensure that voting could continue. According to data released by the Election Commission of India, voter turnout until 2 pm stood at 56.33 per cent in Magrahat Paschim and 54.9 per cent in Diamond Harbour.
The violence during re-polling has once again highlighted the fragile ground realities in the region, where allegations of intimidation and electoral malpractice continue to dominate the political narrative even as the state heads toward vote counting.