Representational (AFP photo).
Kolkata: Even before the Bharatiya Janata Party formally secured victory in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections by defeating the All India Trinamool Congress, reports indicated a surge in polarisation, instances of communal violence, and inflammatory rhetoric targeting minority communities across the state, Siasat reported.
A video widely circulated on social media allegedly shows a man identified as Ankit Tiwari making extreme and violent remarks. In the footage, he is heard accusing TMC workers of killing thousands of Hindus and, in response to the BJP’s rise to power, calling for retaliatory violence. He reportedly urged supporters to continue attacks for an extended period, explicitly advocating the killing of Muslims across age groups, including children and the elderly, as well as religious figures such as maulanas. His remarks suggested that violence should be carried out as an act of revenge, reinforcing the idea that “blood must be answered with blood.” The video was accompanied by a caption urging Hindus in Bengal to take open revenge.
Separately, tensions were also visible on the ground. Local reports from Islampur claimed that BJP supporters renamed “Masjid Para Road” to “Netaji Palli Road” as election trends on counting day, May 4, pointed toward a BJP win. Visuals from the area showed several workers climbing onto the signboard structure carrying party flags. One individual was seen using a hammer to repeatedly strike the existing nameplate until it was removed.
As others waved flags and celebrated, participants reportedly justified the renaming by asserting that Bengal rightfully belongs to Subhas Chandra Bose.