At least two people have died in post-poll violence in eastern West Bengal state, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the regional election by winning over 200 seats and unseating the incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Two people died in incidents of post-poll violence in the state after results were declared on Monday in which BJP won 207 seats out of 293, while the incumbent All India Trinamool Congress(AITC) bagged 80 seats.
A party worker was killed by “BJP-backed miscreants,” AITC leader Kalyan Banerjee wrote on the US social media company X.
The BJP on the other side alleged one of its workers was killed by “miscreants” associated with the AITC.
The AITC has said its offices have been vandalised in the violence.
Police in the state capital Kolkata said a law and order situation arose on Tuesday in parts of Topsia and Tiljala, “during which certain miscreants vandalised public property, etc.”
“Prompt and effective intervention by the local police brought the situation under control immediately,” the police said on X.
Local broadcaster India Today on Wednesday reported at least three deaths in the state, and BJP and AITC traded blame over the incidents.
After the election results were announced on Monday, Mamata Banerjee refused to resign as Chief Minister. Calling BJP’s victory “an immoral victory,” Banerjee claimed more than “100 seats were looted by BJP”.
The Election Commission, which has denied the allegations of any misconduct, has directed West Bengal’s top officials to enforce “zero tolerance” towards any incidents of post-poll violence.
“The ECI asked the state administration and security agencies to take all necessary steps to prevent intimidation, reprisals or clashes linked to the electoral outcome,” public broadcaster All India Radio reported. – AA
At least 2 dead in post-poll violence after BJP sweeps eastern West Bengal state in India
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