As the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections draw closer, the political climate in the state is reaching a boiling point. The specter of electoral violence has once again returned to the forefront, with reports of clashes and targeted attacks on candidates emerging from various districts. On Sunday, the volatile region of Sitalkuchi became the epicenter of tension following a brazen attack on the convoy of a high-profile candidate.

Sabitri Barman’s Convoy Targeted

The latest flashpoint occurred when the vehicle of Sabitri Barman, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Sitalkuchi, was intercepted and vandalized by unidentified miscreants.

According to witnesses, the attackers swarmed the vehicle, causing significant damage and leaving the local leadership in a state of shock.

The BJP has pointed the finger directly at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that the attack was a calculated move to intimidate their candidate and suppress the opposition’s campaign momentum. However, the TMC leadership has categorically denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless attempts to gain sympathy ahead of the polls.

A Cycle of Confrontation

The unrest in Sitalkuchi appears to be a spillover from a series of confrontations earlier in the day. Local sources report that the friction began near a TMC party office where supporters had gathered for a scheduled meeting. Tensions spiked when a convoy belonging to Nisith Pramanik, the BJP candidate from Mathabhanga, passed by the area.

The encounter quickly devolved into a heated shouting match, with supporters from both camps exchanging slogans. The situation turned physical when Chandrashekhar Ray Basunia, a TMC councillor from Ward No. 5, was allegedly assaulted during the melee. In response, TMC workers organized a protest outside the local police station late Sunday night. It was during this demonstration that Sabitri Barman’s vehicle reportedly crossed paths with the protesters, leading to the reported vandalism.

The Shadow of 2021

For many in West Bengal, the mention of Sitalkuchi evokes grim memories. During the 2021 Assembly elections, the area made national headlines after four individuals were killed in a firing incident involving central forces. That tragedy has remained a sensitive political tool for the past five years, frequently cited by all parties to highlight issues of security and democratic rights. The recent flare-up suggests that the wounds of the previous election remain unhealed.

Escalation Beyond Cooch Behar

The unrest is not confined to Sitalkuchi. In Coch Behar South, BJP candidate Rathindra Bose faced a hostile reception during his outreach program. Protesters greeted him with black flags and “Go Back” slogans, prompting BJP workers to retaliate with their own chants of “Jai Shri Ram.”

Simultaneously, reports of violence surfaced from Bankura district. Following a “Vijay Sankalp” rally addressed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a bus carrying BJP workers was intercepted near Sonamukhi. Attackers pelted the vehicle with stones, shattering windows and injuring at least one worker. In protest, BJP supporters staged a blockade on the Bankura-Burdwan state highway, demanding immediate arrests.

As the Election Commission prepares to oversee the upcoming phases of the 2026 polls, these incidents underscore the massive challenge of maintaining law and order in a state where political rivalry often spills into the streets.

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