2026 West Bengal election controversies

2026 West Bengal election controversies
Date2026
Location
ParticipantsBharatiya Janata Party, All India Trinamool Congress, Election Commission of India
OutcomePolitical controversy regarding voter roll revisions, allegations of EVM tampering and post-election violence
Websiteeci.gov.in

The 2026 West Bengal election controversies refers to allegations and disputes surrounding the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, including claims of voter intimidation, voter roll irregularities, Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering, and election violence.

Many BJP supporters, including village women, alleged threats from the local ruling party, Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.[1][2] A full repoll was ordered in the Falta constituency after complaints that ruling AITC (TMC) party workers tampered with EVMs. [3][4]

In May 2026, the Supreme Court of India upheld the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter-roll revision conducted by the Election Commission. [5][6] Earlier, several parties, including the TMC, alleged that many voters were unfairly removed during the revision of electoral rolls as part of a SIR exercise.[7]

While the losing Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, alleged manipulation by central agencies, many other leaders noted that the defeat of TMC was due to its misrule filled with corruption, political violence, and violence against women, such as the rape of female student at R. G. Kar medical college in 2024.

Background

The 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election resulted in a major victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which won more than two-thirds of the seats in the assembly and ended the 15-year rule of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Mamata Banerjee.[8][9]

The election was marked by several controversies and allegations related to the conduct of the electoral process, including claims of voter roll irregularities, EVM tampering, poll violence, and political intimidation by rival parties.[3][10][11] Following the announcement of the results, post-election violence and vandalism were reported from multiple districts across West Bengal. Both the BJP and TMC accused each other of political attacks and intimidation.[12][13]

Voter intimidation

During the 2026 West Bengal state election campaign, BJP leaders complained that their voters were being intimidated by the TMC workers, especially in the Diamond Harbor constituencies, such as by Falta TMC candidate Jahangir Khan and his team. [4]

On May 2, 2026, hundreds of villagers protested in Falta in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, alleging they were receiving life threats from TMC workers in the area. [1] Many BJP supporters alleged that TMC’s Israfil Chowkidar, a close associate of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan, issued threats against them.[2]

After the protests by locals in the Falta area alleging threats from TMC leaders, central security forces, including CRPF personnel, were deployed to ensure the safety of voters. [2] Election observer and police officer Ajay Pal Sharma issued a stern warning and visited the house of Jahangir Khan, who was accused of threatening voters not to vote for BJP.[14] TMC leaders supported Jahangir Khan and blamed Sharma of intimidating their party workers.[15][16]

In urban centers, mainly Kolkata metropolis, the Election Commission set up new booths in housing complexes to avoid voter intimidation by ruling TMC party goons, as alleged in previous elections, where there were cases of such high rises and complexes being locked up by mobs linked to the ruling party TMC, during the elections, as they were seen as likely BJP voters.[17] The ruling TMC (AITC) party continuously opposed setting up of such booths.[18]

Voter roll revision controversy

Several parties, particularly the TMC, alleged that large numbers of voters were removed during the revision of electoral rolls as part of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.[19][20] They stated that nearly 9 million voter names were removed during the revision process. The Election Commission of India in response clarified that the deletions mainly involve duplicate, shifted, deceased, or otherwise ineligible voters, while opposition parties alleged that genuine voters were also removed from the electoral rolls.[21][22]

TMC leaders stated that minority communities and Matua voters were disproportionately affected by the voter list revision process.[23] The BJP defended the revision process as an effort to remove duplicate and invalid entries from the electoral rolls.[24]

EVM allegations

A full repoll was ordered in the Falta Assembly constituency in 2026, after complaints that the ruling AITC (TMC) party workers associated with their candidate, Jahangir Khan, tampered with voting by putting tapes on the BJP candidate's name on the Election Voting Machine (EVM), to prevent any votes being cast in favor of the BJP. [3][4]

The TMC also accused the BJP and election authorities of irregularities involving Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Allegations were made regarding the handling of EVM strongrooms in Kolkata before vote counting.[25]

Pre-poll and post-poll violence

Violence against women was a recurring issue during the election campaign, especially due to the 2024 R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case, which remained part of the wider law and order debate before the election.[26][27]

Following the declaration of results, reports of political clashes and violence emerged from several districts of West Bengal. Political parties blamed each other for intimidation and attacks on party workers.[28]

On the night of 6 May 2026, assailants on bikes fatally shot BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath.[29]

Reactions

CPI(M) State General Secretary Mohammed Salim in his press release stated: "The results clearly indicate that the people have mandated against the TMC’s limitless corruption, autocratic rule, and misgovernance."[30]

Former Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee described the election outcome as a "murder of democracy" and alleged manipulation by central agencies.[31] Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi described the BJP’s victory in West Bengal assembly elections as a “theft” of the popular mandate.[32]

State Congress president, Subhankar Sarkar said that the defeat of TMC was due to its misrule filled with corruption, political violence, and violence against women which include heinous crimes like the R. G. Kar rape case.[33]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "West Bengal election protest: Falta violence, TMC clash latest update". The Hindu. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 ET Online (2 May 2026). "Bengal boils again: Falta locals protest alleging TMC threats; CRPF deployed ahead of vote counting". The Economic Times. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "BJP moves to election commission demanding re-poll in various booths of diamond-harbour". Anandabazar Patrika. 9 June 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 ""Subversion Of Democratic Process": Bengal's Falta To See Repolling On May 21". NDTV. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Krishnadas Rajagopal (27 May 2026). "Supreme Court upholds SIR exercise as an advancement towards free and fair elections". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Bihar SIR verdict Supreme Court hearing, Election Commission highlights". The Hindu. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "How voter deletions impacted West Bengal elections". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Indian chief minister refuses to resign after election defeat to Modi's BJP". Reuters. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (4 May 2026). "Narendra Modi's BJP wins election in West Bengal for the first time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "'Murder of democracy': TMC alleges EVM tampering in Kolkata strongroom; EC responds". The Times of India. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Rao, Aprameya (29 April 2026). "Bengal poll violence flares, nearly 61% turnout amid allegations of EVM tampering". India Today. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Bhattacharya, Pinak Priya (6 May 2026). "BJP activist lynched in Howrah, TMC worker killed in Birbhum". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "TMC alleges post-poll violence as party offices vandalised". The Economic Times. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Who is Ajay Pal Sharma, UP encounter specialist seen warning Abhishek Banerjee's aide during West Bengal Elections 2026". The Economic Times. ET Online. 28 April 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Fair and lovely babua, swipes Mahua Moita". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 May 2026. Cite error: Unknown parameter "toi-ajay"" in <ref> tag; supported parameters are dir, follow, group, name (see the help page).
  16. ↑ Bhattacharya, Ravik (28 April 2026). "'Fair & lovely Babua': Mahua Moitra shares dance video of UP 'encounter specialist' posted as observer in Bengal". The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  17. ↑ Gangopadhyay, Prabal (1 March 2026). "তালা পড়া আবাসনে এ বার নিজস্ব বুথ, স্বস্তিতে ভোটারেরা". Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Bengal Polls 2026: BJP, TMC engage in war of words over high-rise polling booths". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "How voter deletions impacted West Bengal elections". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Millions in India stripped of vote before critical state election". The Guardian. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  21. ↑ Mitra, Ritwika. "Muslims the target? Fury as millions lose voting rights in India's Bengal". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  22. ↑ Bhattacharya, Snigdhendu (23 April 2026). "Millions removed from voter rolls before West Bengal election, opposition alleges". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  23. ↑ Payal, Shivanghi (5 May 2026). "West Bengal assembly elections 2026: How split in minority votes helped BJP breach TMC bastions". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Modi's poll gains point to push on India's civil law reform, infrastructure". Reuters. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "TMC alleges EVM tampering in Kolkata strongroom". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  26. ↑ Roy, Suryagni; Roy, Anirban Sinha (15 August 2024). "Woman trainee doctor found dead in seminar hall of Kolkata hospital". India Today.
  27. ↑ "Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: All you need to know". Deccan Herald. 16 August 2024.
  28. ↑ "Mamata blames BJP and EC after Bengal setback". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "West Bengal election: Suvendu Adhikari's aide Chandranath Rath shot dead in post-poll violence". www.bbc.com. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "CPI(M) West Bengal Statement on 2026 Assembly Election Results | Peoples Democracy". peoplesdemocracy.in. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "Indian chief minister refuses to resign after election defeat". Reuters. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "Put petty politics aside; it's not about one party, but India: Rahul on TMC's loss in polls". The Hindu. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  33. ↑ Bharat, E. T. V. (5 May 2026). "জনগণের ক্ষোভের প্রতিফলন ঘটেছে ভোটে, বিজেপির বিপুল জয়ে মত শুভঙ্করের" [People's anger reflected in the elections, says Subhankar on BJP's huge victory]. ETV Bharat News (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 May 2026.
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