EVM glitches disrupt polling in few places as West Bengal votes in first phase.

PTI, April 23, 2026, Kolkata: EVM glitches disrupted voting at a few places in West Bengal on Thursday as polling was underway in the first phase of the Assembly elections, officials said. Overnight violence was also reported from some places amid the unprecedented security arrangements made.

In Murshidabad district, polling was halted at booth number 156 in Parsalika Madanmohan Primary School in the Beldanga Assembly segment after an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) developed a snag, they said.

At booth number 212 in the Samsherganj Assembly constituency, voting did not begin on time because of similar issues. Polling was also delayed at booth number 130 in Kandi, officials added.

In Purba Medinipur, an EVM malfunction was reported in Birulia of the Nandigram Assembly constituency.

In Cooch Behar, voting at booth number 229 in Town High School was suspended for nearly an hour before resuming.

Polling was also delayed at booth number 231 in Malda district's Habibpur constituency.

In Siliguri in Darjeeling district, polling could not start on time at booth number 26/31 in Margaret School because of a faulty EVM.

Meanwhile, overnight violence was also reported from some districts before polling began.

In Naoda in Murshidabad, crude bombs were allegedly hurled near Shivnagar Primary School in the night, injuring a woman, officials said.

TMC candidate Sahina Mumtaz Khan, who was nearby, escaped unhurt, they said.

TMC MP Abu Taher Khan alleged Humayun Kabir's Amjanata Unnayan Party was behind the attack. Police and central forces were deployed in the area, officials said.