Siliguri BJP candidate and sitting MLA Shankar Ghosh declared that the BJP was on course to form the government in West Bengal, as voting began in the crucial first phase of the Assembly polls.
After casting his vote, Ghosh urged citizens to vote fearlessly and peacefully. He said polling was progressing smoothly. Moreover, he asserted that this election could mark a decisive turning point for Bengal, where the BJP seeks to unseat the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
Ghosh faces TMC heavyweight Goutam Deb, CPI(M)’s Saradindu Chakraborty, and Congress candidate Alok Dhara in a closely watched contest. Notably, Siliguri has emerged as a symbolic battleground in the wider political fight shaping the state.
Early Friction Marks Polling Day
Despite broad claims of peaceful voting, tensions surfaced at Jagadish Chandra Vidyapith polling station. Voters exchanged heated words before security personnel intervened.
Meanwhile, friction erupted in Murshidabad after AUJP founder Humayun Kabir arrived. TMC workers raised slogans and later clashed with police. Security forces then carried out a mild lathi charge to disperse sections of the crowd.
Police insisted the situation remained under control. However, the incidents renewed scrutiny over law and order during polling in a state where electoral violence often sparks debate.
Kabir appealed for calm and said he had directed his supporters not to engage in intimidation. Further, he said he wanted peaceful voting and broad participation.
Battle for Bengal Intensifies
The first phase covers 152 of West Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats. Meanwhile, the second phase is scheduled for April 29. According to the Election Commission, 1,478 candidates are contesting in this phase, and votes will be counted on May 4.
The stakes are enormous. The Trinamool Congress seeks a fourth consecutive term. By contrast, the BJP hopes to build on its 77-seat performance in the previous election and convert that rise into power.
Against that backdrop, Ghosh’s confidence reflects the BJP’s wider argument that Bengal is ready for political change. Ultimately, whether that claim translates into votes will become clearer as the state moves deeper into this fiercely fought contest.
