Kolkata: It was election day in West Bengal, the first of two phases. And the script was all too familiar.
Heavy deployment of central forces, long queues at polling booths and, almost inevitably, violence in several places across districts.
Supporters of Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed in a number of pockets of Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Siliguri and Malda as voting took place in 152 of the 294 Assembly constituencies on Thursday.
Despite the scorching heat in many parts of the state, voter turnout in the first phase of West Bengal was an impressive 89.93% till 5 pm, as per Election Commission of India data. Voting started at 7 am, and the final figures will come in later in the evening.
BJP candidate chased
Among the relatively serious incidents reported during the day, BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar was assaulted and chased through fields allegedly by Trinamool workers In South Dinajpur. Sarkar was eventually rescued by police.
VIDEO | West Bengal election: BJP candidate from South Dinajpur manhandled allegedly by TMC workers even as a security person tries to protect him. #AssemblyPollsWithPTI #WestBengalPollsWithPTI
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/NeCAxYA08p
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2026
In Asansol, BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul’s convoy came under attack. Stones were hurled at her vehicle near booth No. 135 in Rahmat Nagar, shattering the rear windshield, PTI reported.
🇮🇳⚡️West Bengal POLLS: heavy violence breaks out; workers clash with sticks and stone, cars smashed
Very high voter turn out of about 62% by 1 PM . pic.twitter.com/YRH6tKRjjF
— War Flash (@WarFlash_2630) April 23, 2026
In Murshidabad, miscreants attacked the car of Rejajinagar candidate Humayun Kabir, who quit Trinamool to form his own party Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP).
Kabir was visiting Murshidabad where a crude bomb was allegedly thrown, injuring several people. Voting was disrupted, causing panic among locals. A scuffle broke out between Kabir’s supporters and TMC workers.
Kabir’s car was allegedly attacked with sticks and bricks.
#WATCH | West Bengal Elections 2026 | A scuffle breaks out between TMC workers and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir in Murshidabad.
Humayun Kabir is visiting the area where a crude bomb hurling incident was reported yesterday. pic.twitter.com/RTrRzg2eMr
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2026
“The public will give a reply to TMC. TMC’s ‘goondagiri’ will end on 4th May. I was suddenly attacked. At the time when my people gathered to take action, the police lathi-charged them. Additional SP Majeed Khan should be suspended. He is the real criminal and a TMC ‘dalal’,” Kabir alleged.
