Clashes and violence broke out at a counting centre in Asansol and Dinhata in West Bengal on Monday (May 4), with the Election Commission of India (ECI)
deploying a large number of CAPF forces to maintain peace at the locations. According to the visuals of clashes, the officials were seen resorting to a lathi charge. The incident took place at the Asansol Engineering College counting centre, where a scuffle between polling agents escalated into unrest. Chairs and vehicles were vandalised during the clash, prompting security personnel to resort to a lathi charge to disperse those gathered.
Miscreants Targeted Political Camp in Asansol
According to Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate Commissioner Pranav Kumar, miscreants targeted a political party camp, and efforts are underway to identify those involved. "A political party camp was vandalised. The people responsible for the vandalism are being identified," he said.
The violence comes as a fiercely contested election shows dramatic trends in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has crossed the majority mark, posing a serious challenge to the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.
#WATCH | West Bengal | Clash erupts between BJP and TMC workers in Cooch Behar's Dinhata, Central Forces personnel resort to lathi-charge pic.twitter.com/1UyxSq7KEN
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP is leading on 194 seats, while the Trinamool Congress is ahead in 92 constituencies.
If the trend holds, the BJP is set to form its first-ever government in West Bengal, ending over a decade of Trinamool Congress rule and marking a major political shift in the state, which also saw 34 years of Left rule prior to 2011.
Asansol, West Bengal: Tension erupted outside the vote counting centre following the reportedly clashes between BJP and TMC supporters. Police personnel and central security forces resorted to a lathi charge to bring the situation under control. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/mvwyrypzol
— IANS (@ians_india) May 4, 2026
No Victory Tallies Allowed on Monday
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal said no rallies celebrating the victory of candidates will be allowed in the state on Monday as the counting of votes for 293 assembly seats was underway. He said the counting is going fine and no violence has been reported in the state.
"We have directed all DMs not to allow any victory rallies today. These victory processions will be allowed from tomorrow. We don't want any post-poll violence and appeal to everyone to stay calm and maintain peace," the CEO said.
Political parties need to take permission from local police stations to bring out victory rallies, he said.
