Election Clashes in Kolkata: BJP and TMC Workers Clash Outside Police Station, 9 Arrested

 KOLKATA – Tensions boiled over in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign. Violent scuffles broke out between BJP and TMC workers on Tuesday, April 21. The fight occurred outside the Ekbalpur Police Station on Hossain Shah Road. Police arrested nine people following the unrest.

The Incident: Slogan War Turns Violent

The fight began during a rally for BJP candidate Rakesh Singh. BJP supporters shouted aggressive slogans. TMC workers quickly responded with their own counter-slogans. This heated argument soon became physical.

The police used a lathi charge to disperse the angry crowd. Multiple reports confirm that the clash injured nine police officers. Protesters also allegedly stole an officer’s body camera. Some individuals even tried to seize a service revolver during the chaos.

Legal Action and Arrests

The Kolkata police acted swiftly to restore order and confirmed that they took nine people into custody. Officers arrested five BJP workers and four TMC workers. Police registered three FIRs regarding the incident, including two naming BJP candidate Rakesh Singh. News outlets report that protesters vandalised public property during the clashes, which heightens concerns about law and order as polling dates approach.

Charged Political Atmosphere

This most recent conflict is a part of West Bengal’s larger electoral turmoil. There have been reports of similar accidents in other delicate areas:
Nandigram: Where BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is running, there have been reports of altercations between opposing party activists.
Gosaba: A TMC worker was recently hospitalised following a firing incident on Sunday night.

Voter Roll Disputes: Claims of unauthorised voter registration have also sparked tensions outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
Mamata Banerjee slammed the BJP for “intimidation tactics,” while BJP leaders demanded the Election Commission send more paramilitary forces to protect the polls.

As the campaign enters its final, high-pressure hours, the Election Commission has intensified surveillance across sensitive zones in Kolkata to prevent further escalation. With both the BJP and TMC trading accusations of voter intimidation and administrative bias, the focus now shifts to the security forces’ ability to maintain order. All eyes remain on the upcoming Phase 1 polling on April 23, which will serve as a critical test for the state’s law and order machinery amidst one of the most polarised elections in recent history.