Breaking: Suvendu Adhikari Claims Attack Near Kalighat, Urges EC Action

West Bengal’s second phase of polling is witnessing strong voter participation, with around 40% turnout recorded by 11 AM across 142 seats. Voting is brisk in both urban and rural areas, with percentages in many regions crossing the 40–45% mark. However, the day has also seen reports of sporadic violence and political tension. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that he was attacked while visiting a booth area near Kalighat and Bhabanipur, claiming that outsiders raised “Jai Bangla” slogans and tried to disrupt his movement. He has urged the Election Commission to deploy central forces more effectively to ensure free and fair voting. Experts note that while tensions and isolated incidents are being reported, the overall scale of violence appears lower compared to previous elections such as the 2023 Panchayat polls, largely due to the strong presence of central security forces. Most incidents are reported outside polling booths rather than inside, indicating relatively better booth-level control despite a charged political atmosphere.