Murshidabad witnessed a tense election-day confrontation after Trinamool Congress workers raised slogans and clashed with police when Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir arrived in Naoda, sharpening concerns over law and order during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Kabir, a former Trinamool leader who has emerged as a local challenger in the district, had gone to an area where a crude bomb-hurling incident was reported on the eve of polling. His arrival triggered protests by Trinamool workers, followed by a scuffle involving rival supporters and security personnel. Central Armed Police Forces were seen surrounding Kabir as the situation escalated, while police moved in to prevent the confrontation from spreading.
Five people were arrested after the clash in Murshidabad’s Naoda area, where the confrontation became one of the sharper flashpoints of phase-one polling. The incident added to a wider pattern of sporadic violence, allegations of voter intimidation and polling disruptions reported from several constituencies during voting on April 23.
The first phase covered 152 of West Bengal’s 294 constituencies, with about 3.6 crore voters eligible to cast ballots across 16 districts. Polling began at 7am and continued until 6pm, with voters already in queues at closing time allowed to vote. Turnout crossed 90 per cent by the end of polling, giving the exercise one of the highest participation levels recorded in the state’s Assembly election history.
Murshidabad has been politically sensitive because of its sharply contested minority-dominated seats, shifting local loyalties and a history of intense rivalry between Trinamool, Congress, Left forces, the Bharatiya Janata Party and newer formations. Kabir’s break from Trinamool and his attempt to build the AUJP as a challenger have complicated the district’s electoral arithmetic, especially in areas where local networks and identity-based mobilisation carry significant influence.
The violence in Naoda followed reports that a crude bomb had been thrown near a polling booth before voting began. No large-scale breakdown of polling was reported from the immediate area, but the episode fuelled complaints from rival parties about intimidation and inadequate local policing. Opposition candidates elsewhere also alleged attacks on agents and obstruction near booths, while Trinamool leaders accused opponents of staging provocations to discredit the ruling party’s organisation during polling.
The Election Commission’s security arrangements were under close scrutiny through the day. Central forces were deployed in sensitive areas, while state police handled crowd control outside polling stations and public roads. The use of central forces has been a politically charged issue in Bengal elections, with opposition parties demanding firm deployment to curb intimidation and Trinamool arguing that voters were participating freely despite attempts to create alarm.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is seeking to retain power after its commanding 2021 victory, while the BJP is trying to convert its opposition status into a broader statewide challenge. Congress and Left candidates remain relevant in parts of Murshidabad and Malda, where old organisational bases still influence local contests. Kabir’s AUJP adds another layer to this contest, drawing attention because of his past association with Trinamool and his appeal in pockets of Murshidabad.
The first phase also saw reports of electronic voting machine glitches, delayed voting at some booths and allegations of proxy voting. Officials said technical faults were being addressed where reported, while polling personnel were instructed to keep voting moving in high-turnout constituencies. The scale of participation, despite pockets of unrest, underscored the intensity of the contest and the mobilisation capacity of all major parties.