BJP's Subhendu Sarkar attacked in Dinajpur's Kumarganj, allegations against TMC

The first phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections turned volatile in Kumarganj, Dakshin Dinajpur, on Thursday as BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar was attacked while inspecting polling booths. Sarkar claimed that he was surrounded, beaten, slapped, and punched by a group of miscreants while in front of police personnel. The incident, which occurred at Banihari High School, also saw his personal vehicle being vandalized, adding to the growing concerns over security during the crucial voting exercise.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged a total collapse of law and order, claiming that the police remained mute spectators during the assault and that central forces were notably absent from the immediate vicinity. Sarkar alleged that the attack was orchestrated after he raised concerns about the Trinamool Congress (TMC) preventing his polling agents from entering the booths. He described the ordeal as a targeted effort to suppress his presence and disrupt the voting process in his constituency.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has vehemently denied the allegations, characterizing Sarkar's actions as a deliberate attempt to "create a ruckus" and disturb peaceful polling. According to TMC sources, the candidate lacked the necessary polling agents and resorted to provocations that agitated the local crowd.