India

West Bengal Assembly elections 2026: Mamata Banerjee says BJP forcefully rigging polls

Mamata Banerjee is contesting from the Bhabanipur seat against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in a prestige battle being looked upon as a symbolic rematch of Nandigram, where he had defeated her in 2021.

Statesman News Service | Kolkata | April 29, 2026 10:36 am

As polling began for the second and final phase of 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee levelled allegations against central forces and poll authorities.

“So many observers have come from outside. Whatever the BJP says, they are doing. Just look around, all our posters have been removed. Is this how polls take place? Votes will be cast by voters, not by the police or security forces. Some new people have recently been brought in, and they are doing whatever they want. They are doing terrorism,” Banerjee said.

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Banerjee, who is contesting from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to “forcefully rig the election.”

While pointing out to a video playing on her phone, she said, “Look how our worker was beaten up at night. Just look at this atrocity. What kind of hooliganism is going on? Voting does not happen like this. Voting happens peacefully. It is a festival of democracy. But they have completely ruined it.”

She alleged that the “intention is very clear that the BJP wants to forcefully rig the election.”

“Our workers and people are ready to die, but they will not leave the place,” she added.

Banerjee said she and her party want the voting to be peaceful so that people can exercise their franchise.

“However, some observers have been brought in from different places, along with police officers who do not understand Bengal. There was one officer yesterday who caused trouble across Bengal. I was awake all night. Observers are going to police stations to create pressure and target TMC, saying that all TMC agents should be arrested,” she said.

She added, “Last night, around 2 a.m., a team of CRPF ‘Gunda’, sorry, not ‘Gunda’. CRPF force went to my Ward 70 councillor’s house without the local police and attacked his house. His wife was alone with their children. When he said he wasn’t home, the CRPF assaulted them (kicked them), snatched their phone, and warned that he should not do any party work. I can show you the proof.”

Banerjee claimed that she would be able to provide evidence supporting her claims.

Voting is underway at 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Polling started at 7 a.m., with large number of voters seen lined up outside booths across Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman.

During the maiden phase, the BJP defended its north Bengal gains, while the final round shifts the battle to the TMC’s strongest belt.

In total, 3.21 crore electors, including 1.57 crore women and 792 third-gender voters, are eligible to cast their votes in the second phase. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

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