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West Bengal Polls 2026: Clashes at Asansol Counting Centre, Police Lathicharge

Clashes erupted at a counting centre in Asansol on Monday as vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections continued. Security personnel resorted to lathicharge after a scuffle between polling agents escalated, leading to vandalism of chairs and vehicles. The BJP has crossed the majority mark with leads on 156 seats, challenging the TMC's decade-long rule. West Bengal recorded a high voter turnout of 92.47%, with the BJP set to potentially form its first government in the state.

Key Points: West Bengal Polls 2026 Violence: Asansol Counting Centre Clashes

  • Clashes at Asansol Engineering College counting centre
  • Police lathicharge after scuffle escalates
  • BJP leads on 156 seats, TMC on 86
  • Highest voter turnout of 92.47% recorded
2 min read

West Bengal polls 2026: Clashes at Asansol counting centre; police resort to lathicharge as counting continues

Clashes erupt at Asansol counting centre during West Bengal Assembly elections 2026. Police resort to lathicharge as BJP leads, challenging TMC rule.

"A political party camp was vandalised. The people responsible for the vandalism are being identified. - Pranav Kumar"

Asansol, May 4

Clashes and violence broke out at a counting centre in Asansol on Monday as vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections continued across the state.

The incident took place at the Asansol Engineering College counting centre, where a scuffle between polling agents escalated into unrest. Chairs and vehicles were vandalised during the clash, prompting security personnel to resort to a lathicharge to disperse those gathered.

According to Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate Commissioner Pranav Kumar, miscreants targeted a political party camp, and efforts are underway to identify those involved. "A political party camp was vandalised. The people responsible for the vandalism are being identified," he said.

The violence comes as a fiercely contested election shows dramatic trends in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has crossed the majority mark, posing a serious challenge to the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.

According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP is leading on 156 seats, while the Trinamool Congress is ahead in 86 constituencies. Its ally BGPM is leading on one seat, as per early trends.

If the trend holds, the BJP is set to form its first-ever government in West Bengal, ending over a decade of Trinamool Congress rule and marking a major political shift in the state, which also saw 34 years of Left rule prior to 2011.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari expressed confidence in a decisive mandate. "The BJP will form the government with more than 180 seats," he said.

Taking a swipe at the ruling party, he added, "Rone dijiye. Khatam poora khatam."

"All Hindus are united in favour of Narendra Modi... After four rounds of counting, the BJP is forming its government. Hindu EVMs mean BJP, Muslim EVMs mean TMC, except Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur, where people have voted for Congress," he added.

The state recorded one of its highest-ever voter turnouts, with 91.66 per cent polling in Phase II and 93.19 per cent in Phase I, taking the overall turnout to 92.47 per cent.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress secured 213 seats with around 48 per cent vote share, while the BJP won 77 seats with roughly 38 per cent votes, emerging as the principal opposition.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Honestly, this is embarrassing for Bengal. All these years of TMC rule and still we see lathicharge at counting centres? 😤 The people have clearly voted for change, but violence shows how some parties still can't accept democracy. BJP leading with 156 seats is unprecedented. Mamata di's arrogance finally cost her. Let's hope for a peaceful transition now.
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Vikram M
As a Bengali, I'm tired of this cycle. Every election there are clashes. But the real story here is the 92.47% turnout! That's people power. BJP leading in Bengal is a sea change. But I worry about Suvendu's "Hindu EVMs" comment - divisive politics don't help. We need unity, not more polarization. Let's see how the final count goes. 🤞
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Rupali T
One lathicharge incident and people are jumping to conclusions. Counting is still ongoing! 😒 Trends can change. TMC has strong grassroots support. But yes, the violence is condemnable. Whoever did this should be punished. However, I find it ironic that the same people who criticized Mamata for "authoritarianism" are now celebrating Suvendu's divisive rhetoric. Let the counting finish first, then we'll talk.
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Siddharth J
The real question: Will Bengal finally get development beyond 'didir ranna' and populism? 😅 Mamata Banerjee has been in power too long. 213 seats in 2021 to maybe 86 now is a massive rejection. But violence at counting centres is unacceptable - both parties need to control their goons. As for Suvendu, his 'Hindu EVM vs Muslim EVM' statement is dangerous. We're all Indians first.

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