Central forces working to help BJP inBengal polls: Mamata after casting vote

PTI, April 29, 2026, Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the Central forces, deployed for Assembly polls, were working in favour of the BJP and claimed that the ongoing state elections were not being conducted in a free and fair manner.

After casting her vote at Mitra Institution school in her Bhabanipur constituency, Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Central forces, alleging that her party workers and polling agents were being intimidated and driven out of booths.

“The atrocities by the Central forces are unprecedented. What is happening is not at all free and fair polls,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress supremo alleged that Central forces, instead of performing their constitutional duty, were being used for partisan political purposes. “Central forces are supposed to guard the country’s borders, but instead they are working for a particular party,” she said, without naming the BJP.

Banerjee also accused the forces of harassing voters and Trinamool Congress workers across several constituencies. “The Central forces are torturing common people. It is like brutalising democracy. Is this an example of free and fair polls,” she asked.

Banerjee claimed that Trinamool Congress workers were being targeted. “They have assaulted so many of our cadres and have forced our polling agents to leave the booths,” Banerjee alleged.

The Chief Minister had, earlier in the day, visited several polling booths in the Bhabanipur constituency, including those in Chetla, Padmapukur and Chakraberia area, after receiving complaints from local Trinamool Congress leaders over alleged intimidation and irregularities.