False voting, violence, irregularities mar North Bengal polls
The Statesman | 24 April 2026
The Assembly election across North Bengal concluded under an apparently calm and peaceful atmosphere, but multiple incidents reported from different districts have raised serious questions about the credibility of a “free and fair” electoral process.
Despite elaborate arrangements by the Election Commission of India, including deployment of Central forces, CCTV surveillance, and strict monitoring, allegations of false voting, violence, voter exclusion, and technical failures painted a far more complex picture on the ground.
False Voting and Postal Ballot Irregularities
Serious concerns emerged over alleged instances of false voting across several constituencies.
In Siliguri, at a polling station under Booth No. 235, a first-time woman voter discovered after standing in a long queue that her vote had already been cast. A similar complaint was reported by another young voter in the same area. In total, three such incidents surfaced from Siliguri, where original voters found that someone else had voted in their names. The Trinamul Congress candidate Gautam Deb raised objections and arranged for tendered votes in these cases.
A similar complaint came from Phansidewa, where a voter alleged that his vote had already been recorded before he reached the booth.
In Malda district, multiple cases of alleged postal ballot misuse surfaced. At Booth No. 231 in Bulbulchandi under Habibpur Assembly constituency, an elderly voter, Prakash Prasad, was informed that a postal ballot had already been issued and used in his name, preventing him from voting. He raised serious questions about how the ballot was issued and who cast the vote.
In another case from Nayapara under Gazole (Booth No. 229), Rikta Mondal, who is neither a government employee nor a polling official, was shocked to learn that her vote had been cast through a postal ballot, denying her the right to vote at the polling station.
Violence and Law-and-Order Concerns
Incidents of violence and intimidation were reported from several areas, raising concerns about voter safety.
In Kumarganj (South Dinajpur), BJP candidate Shubhendu Sarkar was allegedly assaulted in the presence of police personnel by supporters of the ruling Trinamul Congress.
In Sitai, allegations of a BJP polling agent being stabbed triggered tension in the area.
Another attack was reported in Malda’s Chanchal Assembly constituency, where a BJP election agent was allegedly assaulted at Booth No. 221 in the Dhum Sadagi Panpara area. His vehicle was vandalised and he was physically assaulted. He is currently undergoing treatment at Chanchal Super Speciality Hospital. BJP leaders blamed Trinamul Congress supporters, though the ruling party denied the allegations.
In Mathabhanga, tension escalated near polling booths involving BJP candidate Nisith Pramanik. Allegations surfaced that money was being distributed among voters, which the BJP denied. Heated exchanges between supporters of both camps turned Ghoksadanga into a tense zone, with rival slogans like “Jai Bangla” and “Jai Shri Ram” echoing through the area.
Allegations of Electoral Manipulation
At Booth No. 261 in Mathabhanga, controversy erupted after voters alleged that the portion next to the name of BJP candidate Nisith Pramanik was deliberately covered with black tape. Voters noticed the issue during polling, leading to protests outside the booth.
BJP election agent Kaushik Bhadra alleged that despite informing polling officials early in the day, no action was taken. The party termed the incident a “planned conspiracy” and demanded repolling at the booth.
In Cooch Behar’s Tufanganj, allegations were raised that voters were prevented from reaching polling stations. Adding to the intrigue, a state minister initially lodged a complaint regarding electoral irregularities but later withdrew it, an unusual move that drew attention.
Voter Exclusion and Protests
Large-scale voter exclusion due to deletion of names during the Special Intensive Revision process triggered protests in several areas in Sujapur in Malda.
In Khanpur (Booth No. 117) under Malatipur Assembly constituency, voters who found their names missing staged demonstrations on village roads.
A similar situation unfolded in Sujapur, where several booths witnessed low turnout as many voters were unable to find their names on the electoral rolls. Disappointed voters stayed home or watched others vote with visible frustration. Trinamul Congress candidate Sabina Yasmin criticised the BJP and the Election Commission, alleging large-scale disenfranchisement.
EVM Malfunctions and Polling Disruptions
Technical glitches further disrupted the voting process. In Baharampur, Congress candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that EVMs at a single booth malfunctioned multiple times, causing delays and voter frustration.
In Malda’s Mothabari, EVM failures led to unrest and protests among voters. Similar complaints were reported from multiple locations.
In Ratua, polling was delayed by nearly an hour at Booth No. 116 due to EVM malfunction. Long queues and slow voting added to voter dissatisfaction. At Booth No. 115, a woman fell ill after prolonged waiting, and delays in ambulance services worsened the situation.
In another incident, the BJP candidate from Gazole was unable to cast his vote at Booth No. 227 due to an EVM malfunction.
Health Emergencies and Tragic Incidents
Polling day also saw several health-related emergencies.
A polling officer, Jayashree Karmakar, fell ill due to extreme heat at Booth No. 137 in Akanda (Gazole) and was hospitalised.
In a tragic incident, a 50-year-old woman voter, Promila Bagdi, died after suffering a heart attack while attempting to vote at Booth No. 152 in Kshempur Panchayat under Malatipur Assembly constituency. The incident cast a shadow of grief over the area.
Other Incidents
In Sujapur, tension arose at Booth No. 102 after Congress candidate Abdul Hannan alleged that Central forces prevented him from entering his own booth, leading to a verbal altercation.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the treasury room of the Malda district administrative building due to a short circuit. Although no major damage was reported, the incident caused panic before being brought under control by fire services.