Incidents of post-poll violence against Trinamool Congress leaders were reported from several parts of West Bengal even as the BJP looked set to form the government in West Bengal for the first time ever. BJP leaders, including Arjun Singh, appealed to party workers to show restraint. Bengal is no stranger to post-poll violence, with the days after the 2024 Lok Sabha election and the panchayat polls witnessing deadly aggression against BJP workers.
The fear of large-scale violence in the run-up to the election and after voting made the Centre deploy a huge number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel in West Bengal. The CAPF units ensured a near violence-free election in the first time in many years. However, reports of sporadic incidents of violence started coming in even as the counting process was yet to be concluded on Monday.
The BJP was leading or had won 200 seats in the 293 seats that went to the polls. The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress was contained to around 81 seats.
Trinamool Congress members were attacked and the party’s offices were burnt down in Cooch Behar, Asansol and Howrah.
Responding to the violence, BJP MP from bengal, Arjun Singh, wrote on X, appealing to BJP supporters to maintain restraint and uphold law and order. Singh himself faces a litany of charges.
In Cooch Behar’s Dinhata Town Block, TMC President Bishu Dhar was allegedly attacked by BJP workers and supporters after he came out of the counting centre in the area, reported the news agency ANI.
A huge clash erupted between TMC and BJP supporters in Asansol, West Bardhaman, amid the counting in West Bengal. Large number of chairs were vandalised in the clash, prompting the central forces to take action, reported the news outlet, ABP.
Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate Commissioner Pranav Kumar was reported by ABP as stating: “A political party camp was vandalised. The people responsible for the vandalism are being identified.”
ANI meanwhile reported that a local TMC party office was set on fire in Asansol amid tensions even as the BJP continued to gain a commanding lead. Separate scuffles were also reported as breaking out near the counting centre at Asansol Engineering College, resulting in chairs and vehicles being vandalised. The violence prompted security forces present to launch a lathicharge to disperse the brawlers.
Chaos erupted at the TMC office in Dumurjala in Howrah. Visuals published by ANI show smashed windows, posters torn down, chairs broken, and party flag thrown on the road.
The bengali newspaper, Anandabazar Patrika reported that a BJP counting agent allegedly beat up Trinamool candidate Subodh Adhikari in Barrackpore. On the other hand, the paper also reportes that TMC workers allegedly beat up Canning East BJP candidate Asim Sampui.
TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, alleged she was attacked by BJP workers in the presence of CRPF personnel while leaving the counting centre at Sakhawat High School. “From 3 pm onwards, they have been beating us. I was hit. CCTV was switched off. None of our agents was allowed inside (the counting centre). The DO assured me our agents would be allowed, but after that, he was not available anywhere. I complained everywhere,” ANI reported Mamata as saying.
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