West Bengal (Rajeev Sharma): The second phase of voting in West Bengal began amid sporadic disturbances on Wednesday, with reports of clashes and technical issues emerging from multiple constituencies during the initial hours.
Unrest was reported from regions including Chapra, Shantipur and Bhangar, where confrontations between political supporters allegedly led to damage of property and momentary disruption of polling. Security personnel were deployed to restore order and maintain calm in affected areas.
In Howrah, some polling stations reported glitches in electronic voting machines, causing brief delays. Election authorities said replacement machines were arranged promptly to ensure the voting process continued smoothly.
A separate incident unfolded in the Entally area of Kolkata, where a disagreement broke out involving Priyanka Tibrewal of the Bharatiya Janata Party after her representative was asked to step out of a polling booth. The situation escalated into a verbal confrontation, drawing in members from the rival All India Trinamool Congress.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the role of central forces, alleging interference in the polling process. Her remarks added to the already charged political atmosphere in the state.
Despite the disruptions, officials stated that voting continued across most constituencies with reinforced security measures in place to ensure a fair and peaceful election process.
