Violence Mars West Bengal Assembly Elections

Polling in the first phase of West Bengal's Assembly elections on Thursday was marred by sporadic violence and assaults on candidates across 152 constituencies. The Election Commission has requested reports from districts affected by these incidents as police and central forces work to maintain order.

In Murshidabad's Naoda, clashes erupted between supporters of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party and the ruling TMC, leading to police using baton charges to manage the situation. Allegations of voter intimidation and malpractice further intensified tensions, with various political figures accusing each other of misconduct.

While the ruling TMC denied these charges, scattered violence was also reported in other areas, such as Birbhum and Dakshin Dinajpur. Despite these challenges, voter turnout remained strong, reflecting early participation in a key election closely watched for signals in the ongoing contest between TMC and BJP.