West Bengal Election 2026: EVM Glitch Sparks Chaos and Violence
West Bengal Election 2026: Violence and vandalism were reported in some areas of West Bengal shortly after voting began for the final phase of the Assembly elections this morning.
EVM glitch West Bengal election: In Hooghly, people complained about problems with EVMs and voting delays. In Bally, CRPF officers detained two people after a clash over similar concerns.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the central forces in West Bengal of following the BJP’s instructions.
She showed a video to the media, claiming a Trinamool worker was beaten, and questioned if this was the proper way for voting to take place.
Mamata Banerjee is among 1,448 candidates running in 142 constituencies in today’s final phase. She faces a strong challenge from BJP's Suvendu Adhikari for the Bhabanipur seat.
The BJP hopes to win a majority this time, after raising its seat count to 77 in the 2021 elections.
West Bengal 2026 Election: EVM Glitch Sparks Chaos and Violence; Security Stepped Up
Security was tightened across the state before voting, with almost 2,400 CAPF companies deployed, according to Special Electoral Roll Observer Subrata Gupta, as quoted by ANI.
"The final preparation is good. We are ready to hold phase two of the elections tomorrow at 41,001 polling stations in eight districts of South Bengal.
Nearly 2,400 CAPF companies are being deployed to keep peace and ensure voter safety.
We are prepared for any situation. We hope our planning will lead to a peaceful second phase, but we are ready to handle any law and order problems," Gupta said on Tuesday.
The contingents will have body cameras, and all strong room complexes will be guarded by CAPF personnel.
According to him, candidates and their agents could access the footage, as there will be CCTV cameras at the entry points of strong rooms.
Each polling booth will have four security personnel, and at least two webcams have been installed at each booth. Ajay Pal Sharma's deployment kicks up a row.
West Bengal Election Polling: CRPF Conducts Route March Ahead of Polls
West Bengal Election 2026: On Tuesday, the CRPF conducted a route march in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata ahead of the polls.
An election observer for the South 24 Parganas district sparked controversy. TMC supporters gathered outside party candidate Jahangir Khan’s office, shouting slogans against security personnel during the search.
Bengal Election Violence: Police Observers Accused of Threatening Party Workers
TMC supporters accused police observers appointed by the Election Commission of "intimidating" party workers.
Senior party leaders and state ministers also claimed that the Uttar Pradesh-cadre IPS officer, known as an ‘encounter specialist’, was going beyond his official role.
Bengal elections of 2021: The last assembly elections in Bengal took place in 2021, held in eight phases from March 27 to April 29, with almost 85 percent turnout.
This happened during the severe second wave of COVID-19 in India. Mamata's TMC won 215 seats, while the BJP got 77. The Congress and CPI(M) did not win any seats, which was a major setback for them.
Plea Seeks ‘Urgent’ Removal of IPS Ajay Pal Sharma as Controversy Heats Up
West Bengal election latest updates: The controversy over IPS Ajay Pal Sharma’s deployment in Bengal became a legal issue on Tuesday, when a plea was filed in the Supreme Court asking for his “urgent removal” as election observer.
The police observer was accused of bullying, undue influence, favouritism and even threatening political candidates.
Mock Polls Held in Durgapur, Purba Burdwan, and South 24 Parganas
Bengal election 2026 LIVE: Before the final phase of voting, which is scheduled to start at 7 am, mock polls were held in Purba Burdwan, Durgapur, Nadia, Ballygunge, South 24 Parganas, and other areas in Bengal.
The presiding officer in Purba Burdwan said the mock polls are going well. Polls began on time and are going well.
Nobody is facing any issues. Briefing a news agency, Presiding Officer Pratima Kaibarta mentioned about the arrangements of good security.
People Line Up Outside Polling Centers in Kolkata and South 24 Parganas
West Bengal Election 2026: People have started lining up at polling stations in parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata and South 24 Parganas, before the final phase of voting, which is scheduled to begin at 7 am.
West Bengal Voting Phase 2: West Bengal is voting in the second and final phase today, April 29. Among the 1,448 candidates, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also included.
She is competing from the Bhabanipur seat against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, a candidate from Nandigram in the West Bengal elections.
Results for the elections will be announced on May 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about this topic
The chaos was triggered by an EVM glitch, leading to confusion and disruptions at polling stations.
The glitch caused delays in voting, frustration among voters, and accusations of mismanagement, which led to violence and clashes.
Yes, the EVM malfunction led to violent protests and clashes between political supporters and security personnel.
Election authorities are investigating the malfunction and implementing corrective measures to prevent further issues during the voting process.
Political parties have expressed concerns over the fairness of the election, with some demanding a review of the EVMs and a transparent investigation into the incident.
