At least thirteen people were allegedly killed in West Bengal as widespread violence roiled the polling process in Panchayat elections.
Polling booths were vandalised and ballot papers set on fire at places as people queued up to vote for the crucial three-tier panchayat polls, which serve as a litmus test for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Among those killed were seven workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress, two from the CPI(M), one each from the BJP and Congress, and one person with no political affiliations, officials said, adding that the men had been hacked, shot or hit by crude bombs.
The opposition BJP tore into the TMC for the violence and said the State Election Commissioner had failed to hold the polls in a free and fair manner.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Suvendu Adhikari demanded that President’s Rule be imposed. The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, questioned where the central forces brought in for the elections were. Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim, meanwhile, shared a video of open ballot boxes lying in a field and tweeted, “Vote is over! Condition of the ballots, ballot boxes in one of the booths. Btw this pic is from Diamond Harbour.”
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose met people in various districts to take stock of the situation. Condemning the violent incidents, he said: “It should cause concern to all of us. This is the most sacred day for democracy… Election must be through ballots and not bullets…” Amid reports claiming absence of Central forces at some polling booths, State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha sought details on the number and the position of the personnel from all the district magistrates.