‘Jo shanti todega, hum usko…’: Suvendu Adhikari alleges booth entry denial, warns of ‘action’ during Bengal polling
The Statesman | 23 April 2026
Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday visited sensitive polling stations in Nandigram as voting for the state Assembly elections got underway, alleging that he was stopped from entering one of the booths.
The development comes amid a closely watched election in West Bengal, where several constituencies are witnessing intense political contests and heightened security concerns, with both ruling and opposition leaders raising complaints about disruptions during polling.
Speaking to reporters, Adhikari said, “I was not allowed to enter this polling booth. The common man wants peace. Jo shanti todega, hum usko todne ka kaam karenge. (Whoever disturbs the peace, we will break them).”
Earlier in the day, Adhikari cast his vote in Nandigram and called for immediate action against those creating disturbances.
“Parivartan hoga. If a change does not take place this time, Sanatana in Bengal will be finished. The Election Commission is doing good work, but there are some goons everywhere. Our polling agent has been arrested. Strict action should be taken immediately,” he told ANI.
Adhikari is contesting from Nandigram, where he faces Trinamool Congress candidate Pabitra Kar. The constituency has remained politically significant since the 2021 Assembly elections, when Adhikari defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a narrow margin of 1,956 votes.
Bhabanipur, meanwhile, has once again emerged as a high-profile seat, witnessing a renewed contest between Banerjee and Adhikari. After her defeat in Nandigram in 2021, Banerjee later won the Bhabanipur bypoll following the resignation of MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.
West Bengal recorded brisk voter participation in the initial phase of polling. According to the Election Commission of India, voter turnout stood at 41.11 per cent at 11 am on Thursday.
Among districts, Paschim Mednipur reported the highest turnout at 44.68 per cent, followed by Jhargam at 43.71 per cent and Bankura at 43.22 per cent. Malda recorded the lowest turnout at 38.22 per cent.