News Brief
Lok Sabha Elections Phase One: Clashes Between BJP, TMC Workers Amid Polling In West Bengal - What We Know So Far
TMC and BJP flags
In the first phase of West Bengal's Lok Sabha polls, clashes between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disrupted the voting process for three out of the state's 42 seats.
Reports of violence emerged as soon as voting began, with incidents of confrontations between TMC and BJP supporters in Chandmari near Cooch Behar town.
Anant Barman, a local TMC functionary, was reportedly injured in a crude bomb attack at Bhetaguri.
The central forces eventually stepped in to stop the clashes.
In Sitalkuchi, TMC alleged that BJP workers are threatening the voters at the polling booth no. 286 at Chotosalbari which eventually led to violent clashes between TMC and BJP supporters.
The BJP has however denied the allegations.
It's noteworthy that Clashes during elections are not uncommon in Cooch Behar, where similar incidents occurred during the 2021 assembly elections.
In response to these incidents, the BJP has set up a helpline at its Kolkata office for complaints of poll violence, while TMC functionaries mentioned that the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was monitoring the voting from Kolkata.
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