Panihati (West Bengal) [India], April 29 : West Bengal's Panihati Assembly constituency on Wednesday saw increased political tension after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, also mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim, Ratna Debnath, alleged that she was targeted and threatened by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers during voting.
Speaking to ANI, Ratna Debnath alleged that she was abused and intimidated, claiming that attempts were made to attack her during her visit to a polling area.
"TMC goons who tried to attack me were using abusive language. They said I was doing business in my daughter's name. They misbehaved with me and said that they would see me on 4th May. I complained to the police and demanded their arrest, but the police asked me to leave the spot. I asked them to allow my Chief Election Agent to be with me, but they did not allow it. After I complained at the police station, they came and removed all the TMC workers who were present there," she said.
Further, RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim's father, Sekharranjan Debnath, also alleged that they were confronted and intimidated by a group of motorcycle-borne individuals.
"TMC goons on a motorbike were present on the way as we were passing. They also sloganeered at us. They brought many more TMC goons with them and tried to attack us. Police didn't remove them (TMC workers) but asked us to go away from the spot. They are doing all this because they are scared of us," he told ANI.
Jay Saha, Chief Election Agent for BJP's candidate Ratna Debnath, also accused the ruling party workers of influencing voters at polling booths.
"A Councillor (TMC), along with his goons was present at the polling booth trying to influence & threaten the voters. My candidate protested against it. When her daughter was not safe in Bengal, how can she be safe? She is fighting for the safety of women. The people of Panihati have decided to elect her to the Assembly. Till noon, 50% voter turnout has been recorded," he told ANI.
Voting is underway amid tight security arrangements, with political parties trading allegations of intimidation and misconduct at several polling stations.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJP candidate from Bhabanipur and Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, has alleged that he was surrounded and attacked by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters during his visit to a polling booth.
He chanted 'Jai Sri Ram' and 'Hindu Hindu bhai bhai' as he left from a polling booth.
The incident took place when he arrived to inspect a polling station, following which a group of TMC supporters raised slogans of "Jai Bengal" and allegedly surrounded him.
West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 61.11 per cent till 1 pm on Wednesday, as polling is underway for 142 Assembly seats in the second phase of the state elections.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Hooghly topped the districts with a turnout of 64.57 per cent, followed by Howrah at 60.68 per cent.
Kolkata North recorded 60.18 per cent polling, while Kolkata South registered 57.73 per cent turnout during the same period. Nadia also saw a significant participation, recording a voter turnout of 61.41 per cent till 1 PM.
The main fight in West Bengal in the 2026 elections is between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.
The second phase of the polling is widely seen as the 'litmus test' for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), as voting moves into the party's traditional fortresses in South Bengal and Kolkata.
The second phase covers 142 out of 294 seats in West Bengal. The total electorate is around 3.21 crore, with 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 transgender voters.1,448 candidates are in the fray, including 220 women at 41,001 polling stations, with over 8,000 managed entirely by women.
The counting of votes will take place on May 4.
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