West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cast her vote at the Mitra Institution in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency on Wednesday, but used the occasion to launch a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the deployed central forces. Following the second phase of polling across 142 constituencies, the Chief Minister alleged that central personnel, under the guise of maintaining order, had harassed and physically assaulted innocent voters, including women and children. She claimed these actions were part of a deliberate effort to intimidate the public and disrupt the democratic process.
Beyond voter intimidation, Banerjee accused the central forces and specific police observers of selectively targeting Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, workers, and polling agents. She highlighted specific regions, including Nadia, Hooghly (Arambagh, Khanakul, and Goghat), and South 24 Parganas (Canning), where she claimed atrocities had been ongoing since Tuesday night. The Chief Minister attributed part of the problem to a “communication gap,” noting that police observers from other states who do not speak Bengali were issuing instructions that led to crackdowns on TMC candidates and supporters.
Despite the reports of sporadic tension and baton charges by central forces to disperse crowds in her own constituency of Bhabanipur, Banerjee remained defiant regarding the election outcome. Facing a high-stakes battle against the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, she expressed absolute confidence in a Trinamool Congress victory. While the ECI maintained that the deployment was necessary for free and fair polling, the Chief Minister’s allegations have intensified the political friction surrounding the 2026 Assembly elections.
