Kolkata: Deadly clashes and arson have gripped several districts of West Bengal following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sweeping win in the state assembly elections. At least four people lost their lives in the unrest that broke out after results were declared on Monday. Police and party officials confirmed the violence continued into a second day on Wednesday.
Mamata Banerjee Rejects Defeat
Incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee firmly refused to accept the results and accused the BJP of rigging the polls with help from biased election officials. “I will not resign, I did not lose,” she declared, claiming over 100 seats were forcibly taken. Her Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that BJP supporters went on a rampage, attacking workers and burning party offices in multiple areas.
Transitioning to specific incidents, a TMC worker named Biswajit Pattanayak was found dead near his home in Kolkata’s Beliaghata area. In Jamuria, attackers set a TMC party office on fire during vote counting. Clashes also erupted in Asansol, Dinhata, and near Kolkata’s New Market, where mobs damaged shops and vehicles. Central forces had to use batons to control angry crowds at some counting centres.
Opposition Leaders Raise Concerns
Opposition figures backed Mamata’s claims. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the election “stolen,” while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav described the day as dark for Indian democracy. Reports also surfaced on social media about attacks targeting Muslim communities, though authorities have not independently verified these allegations.
Authorities now face mounting pressure to restore calm quickly. Police have stepped up patrols, but many residents worry that political rivalries could escalate further if leaders fail to urge restraint.
