The political tension surrounding the deployment of central forces in West Bengal during the elections escalated on April 29, when Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused these forces of acting as a “BJP private army.”

He alleged that their actions led to the unfortunate death of an elderly voter in Udaynarayanpur. This assertion was made in a post on social media platform X, where he claimed central forces physically mistreated the elderly voter and his son while they were trying to cast their vote.

Banerjee detailed that the elderly man required assistance to enter the polling booth, but upon their arrival, the central forces allegedly pushed the pair, leading to the man’s collapse. He was subsequently transported to Amta Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, a situation which Banerjee highlighted as evidence of the oppressive actions taken against the electorate in Bengal.

Further, Banerjee condemned the actions of the central forces under the leadership of Union Minister Amit Shah, describing them as “a gang of licensed thugs.” He expressed serious concerns about what he termed a systematic campaign of intimidation aimed at the citizens of West Bengal, asserting that reports indicated violent treatment of voters, including instances of abuse against women and children.

Reference to Previous Violence

In his statements, Banerjee drew parallels to the violent events surrounding the 2021 assembly elections in Sitalkuchi, where four individuals lost their lives due to firing by central forces. He cited the Sitalkuchi incident as indicative of a broader pattern of violence against civilians during elections, claiming that such actions reflect a “cold-blooded, merciless” mindset directed at unarmed citizens.

Banerjee recalled the tragic events of Sitalkuchi to underline his accusation that the BJP was guilty of severe electoral misconduct in its bid to maintain power. He suggested that the consequences for such actions in the past had been substantial and implied that there would be even greater repercussions in the upcoming 2026 elections.

Response from Election Officials

In the meantime, the deployment of central forces has been a contentious topic, particularly during the second and final phases of the West Bengal assembly elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised concerns over the presence of unfamiliar observers and police officers, alleging they were disproportionately targeting TMC members. Reports emerged of protests conducted by TMC supporters in response to a search operation carried out by the Central Reserve Police Force in the Falta Assembly constituency.

During this operation, TMC supporters gathered in large numbers, vocalising their opposition to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) while denouncing the perceived intimidation tactics employed by an election observer. Senior TMC leaders further asserted that the actions of the police observer from Uttar Pradesh were inappropriate, claiming they exceeded the scope of their role.

In response to the unrest and allegations, the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, reassured voters of a secure and orderly electoral environment. He noted the proactive deployment of both state police and CAPF across the state to uphold law and order during this critical period. As the final phase of polling drew to a close at 6 PM, voter turnout reportedly reached an impressive 90%, reflecting strong public engagement in the electoral process.

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