NEW DELHI: Bhabanipur constituency witnessed high-voltage drama as chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her arch-rival Suvendu Adhikari traded barbs at each other amid the ongoing polling for the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.As voting began on Wednesday, Mamata and Suvendu landed in the same polling booth area and took swipes at one another without any direct interaction.Mamata broke convention this time and hit the ground before 8 am, signalling the political stakes attached to the constituency and the larger battle for south Bengal.Though they did not come face-to-face or exchange courtesies, the two rival candidates were briefly in the same area in ward number 70 of Chakraberia, where Banerjee was seated outside a local party office after receiving complaints of alleged intimidation of local TMC leaders.As Mamata remained on the verandah of the party office, Adhikari arrived on the road just opposite the spot, accompanied by a large contingent of central forces personnel, and launched an attack on the chief minister, claiming she had realised that “not a single vote” was coming her way.Mamata alleges ‘poll rigging’, Suvendu dismisses claimMamata accused the BJP of trying to rig the elections by using central forces, police observers and election officials.“The BJP wants to rig this election. Elections in West Bengal are usually peaceful. Is there goonda raj here?” Mamata said.“Several observers have come from outside and are acting as per the BJP’s directions. They are going to police stations and creating pressure. They are calling for the arrest of all TMC agents. My party’s youth president was picked up this morning and later released,” she alleged.Meanwhile, Suvendu refuted the chief minister’s claim as a sign of “frustration”, saying that Mamata was “scared” because state police no longer controlled the polling process.“Mamata is scared. Her police have been replaced by central forces, which is why she is scared. The EC has deployed CAPFs here, so if she has any problem, she should approach them. Why have 40–50 people come with her?” Adhikari said.Adhikari also accused Mamata of moving around with “50–60 goons” despite prohibitory orders under section 163 being in force.“Banerjee is a candidate. She can certainly visit booths. But why this ‘goodagardi’ (hooliganism)? I have complained to the Kolkata DEO. No one will be allowed to indulge in intimidation this time,” he said.’These are not voters but outsiders’Later in the day, Suvendu also alleged that he was surrounded and an attempt was made to attack him by TMC supporters during his visit to a polling booth.According to Suvendu, 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.“I am visiting the booth.”The situation escalated on the ground, prompting intervention by security personnel deployed at the site. Central forces allegedly resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.Polling began at 7 am across key districts including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas, with voters queuing up early at several booths. More than 3.2 crore electors are eligible to vote, with 41,001 polling stations under tight security and webcasting surveillance.Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters to turn out in record numbers, particularly urging women and young people to participate and strengthen democracy.The phase is seen as decisive, covering the TMC’s traditional stronghold in south Bengal, where it had dominated in 2021. For the BJP, making gains here remains critical to mounting a serious challenge. Voting will continue till 6 pm, with results due on May 4.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGanga Expressway Inaugurated: What ₹1,500 Toll Gets You on UP’s 594-km High-Speed Corridor | PM ModiUAE Quits OPEC In Big Oil Shake-Up: What It Means For India‘Siddaramaiah Ready To Step Down As Karnataka CM If Rahul Gandhi Asks’: Ex-Minister RajannaBengal Phase 2 Polls: 142 Constituencies Vote Today, Over 3.21 Crore Voters to DecideChokepoints of Power: how India can ‘trump’ China on the seasSwati Maliwal’s Explosive Exit: Assault Allegations, ‘Betrayal’ Charges Rock AAP As She Joins BJPIndian Aviation Sector Warns Of Possible Shutdown Amid Soaring Fuel CostsUNGA Chief Hails India’s Global Role, Calls India’s Leadership Central To MultilateralismIndia To Receive Fourth Unit Of S-400 Missile Systems From Russia, To Be Deployed In RajasthanISRO-s Big Shift- Civilians To Join Gaganyaan Missions – India-s Space Programme Expands123PhotostoriesFrom a net worth of Rs 80 crore to a luxurious house in Mumbai: Hina Khan’s lavish lifestyle’The Lunchbox’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, Life Of Pi: Irrfan Khan’s iconic movies you may revisit today and always5 things travellers must do on an airplane that makes complete senseBeat the heat indoors: 5 smart design hacks that actually workIndia’s Skyline Giants: Top 10 tallest residential buildings transforming urban real estateBarry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter: Look inside their high-profile celebrity romance, breakup, and cheating rumours’Kara’: Five solid reasons why Dhanush and Vignesh Raja’s film is a must-watch in theatresRashmika Mandanna didn’t just wear a Rs 1.68 lakh Mrunalini Rao saree, she declared fashion bankruptcy for everyone elseGK fact of the day: From corpse flower skunk cabbage, 5 flowers that look beautiful but smell horribleDo you yawn mid-conversation? Your body might be trying to tell you something123Hot PicksExit Poll Result 2026Bengal Election 2026Bengal Poll Phase 2 ViolenceFirhad HakimBengal Poll Phase 1 Vote SurgeMamata BanerjeeCalcutta High CourtTop TrendingTelangana Class 10 SSC resultExit Poll results 2026CGBSE Class 12 ResultTelangana SSC Result OnlineIPL Match TodayShreyas iyerRaja Raghuvanshi Wife BailBengal PollsCGBSE 12th ResultIPL Orange Cap
NEW DELHI: Bhabanipur constituency witnessed high-voltage drama as chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her arch-rival Suvendu Adhikari traded barbs at each other amid the ongoing polling for the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.As voting began on Wednesday, Mamata and Suvendu landed in the same polling booth area and took swipes at one another without any direct interaction.Mamata broke convention this time and hit the ground before 8 am, signalling the political stakes attached to the constituency and the larger battle for south Bengal.Though they did not come face-to-face or exchange courtesies, the two rival candidates were briefly in the same area in ward number 70 of Chakraberia, where Banerjee was seated outside a local party office after receiving complaints of alleged intimidation of local TMC leaders.As Mamata remained on the verandah of the party office, Adhikari arrived on the road just opposite the spot, accompanied by a large contingent of central forces personnel, and launched an attack on the chief minister, claiming she had realised that “not a single vote” was coming her way.Mamata alleges ‘poll rigging’, Suvendu dismisses claimMamata accused the BJP of trying to rig the elections by using central forces, police observers and election officials.“The BJP wants to rig this election. Elections in West Bengal are usually peaceful. Is there goonda raj here?” Mamata said.“Several observers have come from outside and are acting as per the BJP’s directions. They are going to police stations and creating pressure. They are calling for the arrest of all TMC agents. My party’s youth president was picked up this morning and later released,” she alleged.Meanwhile, Suvendu refuted the chief minister’s claim as a sign of “frustration”, saying that Mamata was “scared” because state police no longer controlled the polling process.“Mamata is scared. Her police have been replaced by central forces, which is why she is scared. The EC has deployed CAPFs here, so if she has any problem, she should approach them. Why have 40–50 people come with her?” Adhikari said.Adhikari also accused Mamata of moving around with “50–60 goons” despite prohibitory orders under section 163 being in force.“Banerjee is a candidate. She can certainly visit booths. But why this ‘goodagardi’ (hooliganism)? I have complained to the Kolkata DEO. No one will be allowed to indulge in intimidation this time,” he said.‘These are not voters but outsiders’Later in the day, Suvendu also alleged that he was surrounded and an attempt was made to attack him by TMC supporters during his visit to a polling booth.According to Suvendu, 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.“I am visiting the booth.”The situation escalated on the ground, prompting intervention by security personnel deployed at the site. Central forces allegedly resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.Polling began at 7 am across key districts including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas, with voters queuing up early at several booths. More than 3.2 crore electors are eligible to vote, with 41,001 polling stations under tight security and webcasting surveillance.Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters to turn out in record numbers, particularly urging women and young people to participate and strengthen democracy.The phase is seen as decisive, covering the TMC’s traditional stronghold in south Bengal, where it had dominated in 2021. For the BJP, making gains here remains critical to mounting a serious challenge. Voting will continue till 6 pm, with results due on May 4.
