Bloody polls: West Bengal tops in violence during 16 State elections held in last decade

Two days after the Election Commission of India announced the dates for West Bengal Assembly polls on March 18, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) booth president was hacked to death due to intra-party rivalry in North 24 Parganas district, claiming the first fatality of the upcoming Assembly elections.

In the past decade, Bengal has remained the most violent among the large States (with over 200 Assembly seats) which went to polls. A study of the data collated by independent conflict monitor — Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) — pegs 2021 Bengal polls as the bloodiest with 278 instances of violence of the 354 incidents, which occurred since the model code of conduct (MCC) kicked in till the newly-elected government was formed.

Of the 16 polls that have been held in large States – Uttar Pradesh (403 seats), West Bengal (294 seats), Maharashtra (288 seats), Bihar (243 seats), Tamil Nadu (234 seats), Madhya Pradesh (230 seats), Karnataka (224 seats) and Rajasthan (200), Bengal’s polls in 2016 and 2021 have the highest number of violent incidents, followed by Uttar Pradesh’s 2022 polls (51) and 2017 polls (50). Both States had polls in over five phases.

Among States, which went to polls in a single phase, Rajasthan remains the least violent with 15 instances in 2018 and 10 in 2023, followed by Tamil Nadu which has 11 in 2016 and 22 in 2021. Bihar remains the only outlier among multi-phase polled States, with 18 violent instances in 2020 and 11 in 2025.

The EC has offered staggered polls as a solution to curb poll violence, citing better security preparations, easing polling officers’ duties and better voter management. However, ACLED data shows that single-phase polling States like Maharashtra, which nearly equals West Bengal in Assembly strength, saw only 39 instances (5.17%) compared to Bengal’s 450 incidents in the last decade. Geographically, southern States Tamil Nadu and Karnataka amount to 70 of the total 775 (9.2%) violent incidents and the Hindi belt – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar — clock 196 (~26%) incidents. Surpassing all stands Bengal, amounting to 59.6% of the violence.

A deeper look at Bengal’s polls reveals that more local the elections, the more violent it gets. Between 2016 and 2026, four polls in Bengal have been considered — State polls in 2016, 2021 and Panchayat polls in 2018 and 2023. The time period under scrutiny is from the date the EC announced the election schedule to the formation of government, and in case of Panchayat elections, a period of four days after results were declared.

State polls (2016 and 2021)

2016

Reducing the Left to its lowest-ever tally, Mamata Banerjee emerged victorious in 2016 being re-elected for a second time as Bengal’s Chief Minister. In the six-phase election, 205 incidents occurred, of which only 33 were peaceful demonstrations.

Topping the list are mob violence incidents (126), in which groups of party workers clashed with each other or Central armed forces, resulting in injuries, fatalities, arson and property damages. Of these, 19 are post-poll violence, directed at CPI(M)/Congress offices or cadres by triumphant TMC cadres. In 39 cases of violence against civilians, individual workers of TMC and CPI(M) were targeted by rivals or ‘unknown assailants’ — most of them prior to/between polling dates. One instance of sexual violence occurred in Jadavpur involving TMC cadres molesting women who supported their opposition in Jadavpur.

As per reports, deployment of Central forces remained highest in second (56 seats), third (62 seats) and fifth (53 seats) phase of elections – ranging between 600-650 companies of CAPFs. Half of the deployed strength was around polling booths in Kolkata and North/South 24 Parganas. However, ACLED data shows that areas where violence peaked are North/South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Medinipur, Kolkata and Birbhum. A party-wise break-down shows TMC involved in at least 127 (or 73.8%) of the 172 listed violent incidents; of which there were 16 instances of TMC workers, leaders, members, or supporters being attacked and TMC perpetrating the violence or being directly involved (in case of mob violence or clashes with other party cadres) at least on 111 (or 64.5%) instances.

2021

Advent of Coronavirus, mass defections, rise of BJP marked the 2021 Bengal polls as Ms. Banerjee swept to power for a third time. Mounting a massive ground campaign spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP managed to sway top TMC loyalists like Suvendu Adhikari, Rajib Banerjee, Mukul Roy away from Ms. Banerjee. However, TMC managed to defeat BJP, winning 215 seats while BJP was limited to 77 seats. The polls also marked a first when both Congress and Left parties failed to open their account.

With polls staggered over eight phases due to COVID-19 restrictions, violence rose significantly in comparison to 2016 polls. Of the 198 instances of mob violence, 53 (or 27%) occur on the day polls were conducted (one day of polling for each of the eight phases), and 53 (or 27%) on and after counting day (May 2 and 3). While TMC cadres went on a vandalism spree of BJP offices and their supporters’ houses on counting day, in the three days following BJP cadres had hit back, clashing with TMC cadres, killing supporters and damaging properties. In 35 cases of violence against civilians (including one instance of abduction), BJP and TMC candidates were reportedly targeted by ‘unknown assailants’ on eight and three instances respectively, resulting in injuries and some fatalities.

In two instances, BJP leaders were found hanging after mysterious deaths. Additionally, 22 incidents of violent protests by TMC were witnessed after Ms. Banerjee hurt herself during campaign.

As per reports, 725 companies of Central forces were deployed prior to the elections to curb pre-poll violence with another 200 companies moving into the State during the eight-phase polling. Unlike 2016, seats were almost evenly spread across phases with fourth (44), fifth (45) and sixth (43) having the most number of constituencies going to polls. However, none of these steps managed to curb violence, as 2021 saw a 60% spike in instances compared to 2016.

Geographically, violence peaked in the same areas as in 2016 — South and North 24 Parganas, Medinipur, Kolkata and Cooch Behar. Retaining its most violent tag, TMC was involved (either as the cause of the violence, involved in clashes against other party cadres, or in violent demonstrations) in at least 139 of the 278 violent instances. Replacing CPI(M), BJP emerged as TMC’s rival in at least 76 (of 278) such instances.

Panchyat polls (2018 and 2023)

2018

Riding high on its assembly poll victory, TMC won 33% of the Panchayat seats polled in 2018 unopposed – mainly by stopping Opposition candidates from filing their nominations. Winning over 46,000 local body seats, TMC surpassed BJP which won over 6,000 seats, Left and Congress which won around 1,500 seats each and others winning 2,000 seats. Similar to 2016 State polls, 155 of the 173 instances reported were violent.

Mob violence (101) which still topped the list, saw more usage of firearms and crude bombs by both BJP and TMC workers against each other. Most instances involve TMC cadres resorting to violence to stop BJP/CPI(M) leaders from filing their nomination and clashing with police forces while polling. Of these 101 instances, 38 were on polling day and two were on counting day, as shown in the graphic above.

Of the 35 cases of violence against civilians (including abductions), TMC cadres were perpetrators in 20 – targeting BJP/CPI(M) cadres and their relatives in 13 of them. One instance of sexual violence was reported where a BJP candidate’s pregnant sister-in-law was allegedly raped by TMC cadres in Ghoralia number 2 gram panchayat area (Nadia district).

Unlike State polls, Central forces’ deployment was not requested by the State election commission. As Opposition parties sought its deployment, the Calcutta High Court was forced to step in and order the same on April 8, 2018 – a month before polls were scheduled. With minimal police presence and scattered Central forces, violence peaked in the districts like Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, Birbhum and Cooch Behar, ACLED data shows.

2023

In its bloodiest poll till date, 2023 saw at least 60 fatalities in political clashes during the Panchayat elections. TMC saw a dip in its Panchayat bodies’ strength, winning over 44,000 seats – a 20% dip since 2018. On the other hand, BJP saw a 10% rise in its strength, winning ~ 10,000 seats and CPM also gained over 3200 seats in panchayat bodies. Following the 2021 polls’ trend, 327 of the 374 instances reported were violent.

A 163 instances of mob violence included TMC clashing with both BJP or CPI(M) candidates often stopping them from filing nominations (at least 15 instances) by protests, hurling crude bombs and gun attacks. Polling day of the single-phased elections itself saw 86 instances of violence – highest among all four polls.

Like 2018, the Calcutta High Court had to step in demanding the SEC to demand 82,000 Central force personnel to stave off violence. The order was passed on June 22, after pre-poll violence had already claimed six lives. Data shows that between June 23 and July 15, 249 instances of violence were reported in spite of the deployment. Geographically, violence peaked in South 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas and Uttar Dinajpur – similar to the 2021 State polls.

Is the situation better now?

Reversing tactics, the EC has decided to hold Bengal polls in two phases this year – April 23 and 29. Doubling the Central forces deployment from 2021, Bengal will see 2400 CAPF companies in action, with 480 companies already in the State. It will also retain 700 CAPF companies after the second phase of polling to curb post-poll violence. Over 19 senior police officers have been transferred, ten paramilitary personnel disciplined for breach of conduct and voters’ right in question due to the special intensive revision (SIR).

Six instances of poll violence has been reported since May 15, 2026 when the EC announced election dates. Going by successive polls, violence has only increased in spite of increased Central forces deployment or staggering phases.