Clashes, allegations of voter intimidation, and technical malfunctions marked a tumultuous start to the first phase of voting in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. Tensions escalated overnight when crude bombs were reportedly thrown near Shivnagar Primary School, injuring at least one individual and inciting panic among locals.
One victim recounted to news agency ANI, “I had stepped out yesterday to offer Namaz at around 8 pm… I was standing when two boys came and threw a bomb near my foot. Humayun Kabir’s party workers have done this.” The violence continued into polling day, with a scuffle erupting between workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Humayun Kabir, founder of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, as he visited the impacted area.
Kabir, however, refuted the allegations, stating, “In Nowda, Rejinagar, and all 22 seats of Murshidabad, peaceful elections are taking place. But in booths number 9 and 10 in Nowda, some incidents occurred overnight, including the snatching of bags belonging to local police.”
In Domkal, several voters reported being threatened and obstructed from reaching polling stations. Residents of Raipur village claimed that armed individuals were present early in the day, creating a climate of fear. Allegations of intimidation were directed at the ruling TMC, which did not promptly respond. The Election Commission requested a report and subsequently deployed heavy security to facilitate voter access to polling booths.
Voting was further complicated by malfunctions of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which delayed or halted proceedings at numerous booths, including those in Beldanga, Samsherganj, and Kandi in Murshidabad. Similar issues were also reported in Nandigram, Malda, Cooch Behar, and Siliguri. Congress candidate Sanjoy Adhikari stated, “We have already lodged a complaint… Hundreds of voters are already standing in queues… and there’s no EC representative here who can tell us when polls will resume.”
Polling commenced across 152 constituencies at 7 AM, with a recorded voter turnout of 18.76 percent by 9 AM.
