Mamata Banerjee cries rigging, Suvendu Adhikari hits back with voter threat charge

The political atmosphere in West Bengal turned sharply charged on April 29 as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged attempts to rig the second phase of polling, prompting a strong counter from BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who accused her of voter intimidation.

The confrontation played out in Bhabanipur, where the two leaders briefly crossed paths at Ward 70. As Adhikari arrived, Banerjee was already present. Looking towards her, he repeatedly told those around him, “No one is voting for her today.”

Earlier, Banerjee had raised serious concerns about the conduct of central forces. During a visit to the residence of TMC councilor Ashim Bose, she alleged that security personnel had entered his house late the previous night and harassed party workers.

“Look how our worker was beaten at night. This is unacceptable,” she said. “Voting is meant to be a festival of democracy, but what is happening here is very disturbing. The BJP wants to forcefully influence the election. Our workers will stand their ground.”

Banerjee, who is contesting from Bhabanipur, stepped out early in the morning, well before her usual voting time. She visited several polling booths across the constituency, including in the Chetla area, before sitting outside a polling station in Chakraberia to protest what she described as irregularities.

She also questioned the role of Election Commission observers, alleging they were not acting independently. “Observers from outside are working under instructions. People should be allowed to vote freely. This is not how elections are conducted,” she said. She further claimed that TMC flags had been removed and that outsiders were interfering in the polling process.

According to Banerjee, local party representatives were being restricted. “They are not allowing the councilor of Ward 70 to step out. Our workers are being picked up. We stayed awake through the night,” she said, calling for immediate action from the Election Commission.

The BJP rejected the allegations and accused the ruling party of trying to create confusion. Responding to Banerjee’s claims, Adhikari said she was moving around with “goonda elements” and attempting to influence voters. He also alleged that Hindu voters were facing threats during polling in the constituency.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, after casting his vote, also raised concerns about the conduct of poll observers but remained confident about the party’s prospects. “We will win more seats than in 2021,” he said.

Adhikari, who offered prayers at temples in the Khidirpur area earlier in the day, expressed confidence in the electoral process. He said voter turnout was strong and arrangements were in place for a fair election. “It does not matter when she steps out. She will lose,” he said.

Bhabanipur remains at the centre of attention in this phase of polling. The contest carries added significance given the political history between the two leaders. In 2021, Banerjee lost to Adhikari in Nandigram by a narrow margin. This time, he has taken the fight to her home turf.

With south Bengal considered a stronghold of the Trinamool Congress, the outcome of this phase is expected to be crucial. For now, the focus remains on Bhabanipur, where a high-stakes contest is unfolding alongside serious allegations from both sides.

West Bengal witnessed a brisk start to voting on April 29, with an early voter turnout of 18.39 % recorded by 9 am as polling got underway across 142 constituencies.

Among the districts, Purba Bardhaman led the turnout chart with 20.86 %, indicating strong early participation. Hooghly followed closely at 20.16 %, while Nadia registered 18.50 % polling in the opening hours.

In North 24 Parganas, turnout stood at 17.81 %, reflecting steady voter movement. The urban pockets of Kolkata saw slightly lower figures, with Kolkata North recording 17.28 % and Kolkata South at 16.81 %. Howrah reported a turnout of 17.76 %.

The early numbers suggest an active start to polling day, with several districts showing robust voter engagement in the initial hours.