Bengal Polls Heat Up: 18.39% Turnout by 9 AM Amid Violence Allegations
West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 18.39 per cent until 9 am on Wednesday as polling for the remaining 142 seats got underway earlier in the day.
Purba Bardhaman reported the highest turnout at 20.86 per cent, followed by Hooghly with 20.16 per cent.
Nadia registered 18.50 per cent polling, while North 24 Parganas recorded 17.81 per cent. Kolkata North and Kolkata South saw voter turnouts of 17.28 per cent and 16.81 per cent respectively, and Howrah reported 17.76 per cent voting.
The main contest in the 2026 West Bengal elections is between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari inspected polling booths in the Bhabanipur constituency, while TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee cast his vote at the Mitra Institute polling booth in the same constituency.
Amid the polling process, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar alleged that a party booth agent was assaulted by TMC workers in the Nadia Chhapra Assembly constituency and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Speaking to ANI over the alleged attack, Sarkar said, "Chhapra is a minority-dominated area where 'gundagardi' happens with help from TMC, which doesn't want any BJP booth agents present in the constituency. We are demanding strict action in this incident."
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According to the allegations, around 5:30 a.m. on polling day, BJP polling agent Mosharraf Mir, assigned to booth number 52 under Hatra Panchayat, was attacked with iron rods and firearms by unidentified individuals.
Police officials rescued him and admitted him to Chapra Rural Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. He has received six stitches on his head.
Sarkar further alleged that BJP workers and booth-level functionaries are being targeted to prevent the party from carrying out its electoral duties in the region.
He reiterated his demand for strict action and urged authorities to ensure the safety of political workers on the ground.
(With inputs from ANI)