Phase 1 voting for West Bengal assembly elections 2026 on Thursday saw dramatic events, including sporadic incidents of violence and assaults on candidates. Voting began for 152 constituencies across 16 districts of West Bengal began at 7 am on Thursday.
While the initial hours remained peaceful, a scuffle broke out between TMC workers and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir in Murshidabad. Humayun Kabir was visiting the area where a crude bomb hurling incident was reported on Wednesday. Track Bengal elections April 23 live updates
Hours later, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate was seen being chased in South Dinajpur.
The Bengal battle is primarily a BJP versus incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) contest, with the former trying to achieve its long-sought goal of unseating the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
Bengal elections | Key highlights from Phase 1 voting
-Humayun Kabir ‘attacked’: Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir on Thursday said that he was "suddenly attacked" by TMC supporters in Murshidabad after he visited the Nowda area over the crude bomb incident. Crude bombs were hurled late on Wednesday night at Nowda area, ahead of the first phase of polling in West Bengal. "The public will give a reply to TMC. Their 'goondagiri' will end on 4th May 2026. I was suddenly attacked. At the time when my people gathered to take action, the police lathi-charged them. Additional SP Majeed Khan should be suspended. He is the real criminal and TMC dalal [broker]" news agency ANI quoted Kabir as saying.
-BJP candidate chased: Hours after the above incident, BJP candidate from South Dinajpur – Shuvendu Sarkar – was seen being chased and manhandled allegedly by TMC workers even as a security person tried to protect him.
{{/usCountry}}-BJP candidate chased: Hours after the above incident, BJP candidate from South Dinajpur – Shuvendu Sarkar – was seen being chased and manhandled allegedly by TMC workers even as a security person tried to protect him.
{{/usCountry}}-Ink on BJP symbol: In another incident, ink was smeared over BJP's lotus symbol on the EVM at a booth of Raghunathpur constituency. The ink hid the symbol, claimed Bishnupur MP Saumitra Khan. West Bengal Sector CRPF later said on X that the ink was cleared and voting was going on peacefully.
-Agnimitra Paul's car also allegedly attacked: Rear window of BJP leader Agnimitra Paul's car was shattered in an alleged stone attack. "A stone was pelted at my running car as we were coming out of a polling booth in Rahmat Nagar in Asansol. It is very clear who is behind this. This is an effort to influence the election. We have filed a complaint against this," she said, according to a video posted by PTI news agency.
-Voting percentage: West Bengal recorded over 91.83 per cent voting till 6 pm, according to Election Commission of India (ECI). The polling in 16 districts on Thursday is deciding the electoral fate of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, in 152 constituencies of the 294-strong state Assembly.
-BJP candidate's altercation with TMC worker: BJP candidate from Siuri, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, was seen engaged in a verbal altercation with a TMC worker, alleging that she is "terrorising" voters and that she cannot be present within a 100-metre radius of the polling booth.
In response, she reportedly said that she was just helping a differently-abled voter with the voting procedure.