Kamal Kumar Biswas. TOD.Balurghat
A political clash broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Ward No. 10 of Balurghat, in West Bengal’s Dakshin Dinajpur district, after allegations of voter inducement triggered tensions between rival party workers ahead of the elections.
Leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress accused workers from the Bharatiya Janata Party of going door to door to distribute leaflets about a proposed “Annapurna” scheme, which promises ₹3,000 per month in financial assistance to women. They also alleged that BJP workers collected Aadhaar card details and phone numbers from residents, raising concerns about possible voter influence and misuse of personal data.The BJP denied these claims, saying its workers were only conducting routine campaign outreach to inform people about the party’s promises. Party leaders rejected any accusation of collecting personal information or offering incentives.
The situation escalated when workers from both sides confronted each other, leading to a heated argument and unrest in the area. Police from the local Balurghat station arrived promptly to bring the situation under control.Officials from the Election Commission of India were informed, and a Fast Flying Squad was sent to investigate. The team intervened, calmed the situation, and seized bundles of Annapurna scheme forms from the spot. Normalcy was restored soon after.
The BJP’s election manifesto includes several welfare promises for women, while the Trinamool Congress continues to highlight its existing schemes, including the popular “Lakshmir Bhandar” initiative. Tuesday’s incident reflects the increasingly intense and competitive nature of election campaigning in the region.Local Trinamool councillor Shipra Kha repeated the allegations of inducement, while BJP leader Deepmala Mahanta insisted that no rules had been violated. The episode highlights the heightened political tensions in the run-up to the polls.
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