2026 West Bengal election controversies
Controversies related to the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election
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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.
| Date | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | West Bengal, India |
| Participants | Bharatiya Janata Party, All India Trinamool Congress, Election Commission of India |
| Outcome | Political controversy regarding voter roll revisions, allegations of EVM tampering and post-election violence |
| Website | eci |
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]