West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: 41.11% turnout by 11 am; ‘TMC is a party of thieves,’ says Humayun Kabir after clash

Clashes broke out between workers of the Trinamool Congress and All India United Democratic Front (referred locally as AJUP) in Murshidabad’s Nowda on Thursday after a crude bomb blast left several people injured, casting a shadow over the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026.

Tensions escalated when AIUDF leader Humayun Kabir visited the blast site, triggering a confrontation with TMC workers and police. Security personnel were deployed to control the situation, and police resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd, though officials said the situation was brought under control.

Voting underway amid disruptions

Polling began at 7 am across 152 constituencies in 16 districts. According to the Election Commission of India, voter turnout reached 41.11% by 11 am.

Apart from violence, reports of EVM glitches at a few polling stations also briefly disrupted voting, officials said.

Political reactions

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari cast his vote in Nandigram and expressed confidence about his party’s prospects, while calling for peaceful polling.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters, especially women and youth, to participate in large numbers in what he described as a “festival of democracy.”

High-stakes contest

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s TMC is seeking another term in power, while the BJP is aiming to unseat the ruling party. The campaign saw sharp exchanges, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah attacking the TMC over alleged “vote bank politics,” and TMC leaders hitting back.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has also remained a contentious issue, with reports suggesting a significant reduction in voter numbers.

Key details

Over 3.2 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this phase. Key constituencies include Bhabanipur, Nandigram, Kharagpur Sadar, Murshidabad, and Baharampur.

The remaining 142 seats will go to polls on April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.