Examining West Bengal’s phase-2 voting: EVM “glitches,” TMC “goons,” and a challenge to PM Modi

A number of incidents occurred during the West Bengal assembly elections 2026 Phase 2 polling. Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress swapped accusations, each accusing the other of inciting trouble and trying to sway the elections, reports of suspected violence and hooliganism emerged. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari met at the same booth in Chakraberia, Bhabanipur, marking the dramatic start of Bengal’s second round of voting.

Here, Mamata is running in a prestige match that is also a rematch of her defeat by the BJP leader in Nandigram in 2021. The BJP chose to field Adhikari against Mamata once more, this time in Bhabanipur, following his victory in Nandigram.

When Adhikari came amid a massive deployment of central forces, Banerjee was already seated outside the booth following accusations of suspected intimidation of local TMC officials.Adhikari said, “I will not allow any hooliganism,” as he got out of his car at the booth, while Banerjee charged that the BJP was attempting to “rig” the election by employing election officials, police observers, and central forces. According to PTI, some voters claimed that Mamata threatened them by bringing goons in her car.

Adhikari said, “Mamata Banerjee is scared, nothing else. Her police has been replaced by CAPF that is why she is scared. The Election Commission has deployed the CAPF here so if she has any kind of problem, she should approach the Election Commission. I will step up wherever needed. This time no one will be spared. People should be allowed to vote… She will lose Bhabanipur with a margin of atleast 30000 votes.”

“BJP wants to rig this election . Elections in Bengal are usually peaceful. Is there goonda raj here?” Banerjee told reporters, alleging CRPF personnel had visited the homes of TMC leaders late Tuesday night and unleashed terror in the area.

Speaking to reporters, Banerjee showed a photo/video of a party worker whom she claims was beaten up by the BJP, saying, “Look how our worker was beaten up at night. Just look at this atrocity. What kind of hooliganism is going on? Voting does not happen like this. Voting happens peacefully.”

Additionally, she said that the BJP is “bringing observers from outside” to the state, where they are engaging in “terrorism.” Her remarks followed Banerjee’s visit to multiple polling places in her assembly constituency of Bhabanipur, when she claimed that election observers and central forces were working at the BJP’s request. Mamata Banerjee defied convention by leaving her Kalighat home before eight in the morning to cast her ballot at Mitra Institution School. She highlighted the importance of Bhabanipur and the larger struggle for south Bengal when she passed via Chetla, Padmapukur, and Chakraberia.Her silence during Phase 1 voting was noteworthy.

A BJP poll worker was allegedly attacked inside a booth during a mock election in Chapra, Nadia district. The ruling party refuted the BJP’s accusation that TMC members had attacked its agent. A BJP camp office in Shantipur was discovered to have been vandalized. Tension erupted at a voting station in Liluah in Howrah’s Bally constituency after an EVM malfunction caused central forces to lathi-charge irate voters. In relation to the event, two people were taken into custody.The mother of the RG Kar victim, BJP candidate Ratna Debnath, was the target of protests in Panihati, when TMC workers allegedly halted her car.

In Jagaddal, the recovery of a firearm near a polling booth triggered tension before police and central forces restored order.

Claiming an attack on his car by TMC workers, BJP candidate from the Basanti assembly constituency, Bikash Sardar, said, “Gundagiri by TMC is happening everywhere in the constituency. 200-250 TMC goons attacked my car with rods and bamboo sticks. They also attacked my driver.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was directly challenged by TMC MP Derek O’Brien, who said that if Mamata Banerjee and the TMC win the state, Modi should “resign.” Kolkata Police has increased drone surveillance in Bhangar to stop any negative events. Senior officials, including Rupesh Kumar and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Subhankar Sinha, kept a careful eye on the situation to make sure law and order was upheld.