ECI rejects TMC's manhandling claim, says 82-year-old voter died of illness
Synopsis
The ECI has directly contradicted TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's claim that an 82-year-old voter was manhandled to death by central forces at a Howrah polling booth. The commission's own General Observer visited the site and confirmed the man died of illness after voting — a sharp factual dispute that cuts to the heart of West Bengal's charged election narrative.
Key Takeaways
ECI rejected TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's claim that an elderly voter was manhandled by central forces at Booth No.
245 , Udaynarayanpur , Howrah .
The deceased was identified as Purna Chandra Dolui, 82 , who reportedly collapsed due to illness after casting his vote on 29 April .
He was rushed to Amta Hospital and declared dead on arrival.
Abhishek Banerjee had alleged central forces were "terrorising" voters since dawn, including "slapping women" and "assaulting the elderly." BJP 's West Bengal unit accused TMC of attempting to project an illness-related death as poll violence.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday, 29 April rejected allegations by All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee that an elderly voter died after being manhandled by central forces personnel at a polling booth in Udaynarayanpur, Howrah district, West Bengal. The ECI identified the deceased as Purna Chandra Dolui, 82, and said he collapsed due to illness after casting his vote — not as a result of any altercation with security personnel.
What the ECI Said
In an evening statement, the ECI quoted the General Observer for Udaynarayanpur Assembly constituency, who said Purna Chandra Dolui, son of Anukul Dolui of Kurit Purba under Penro Police Station, Howrah Rural District, had come to Booth No. 245 of 182-Udaynarayanpur AC along with his son to cast his vote.
Point of View
But the factual dispute itself reveals the deeply adversarial nature of West Bengal's electoral environment. Abhishek Banerjee's social media statement, invoking the 2021 Sitalkuchi incident and threatening central forces personnel, escalated well beyond what the verified facts supported. That kind of political amplification, before any official inquiry, risks inflaming an already tense polling day. The BJP's counter-framing — that TMC is manufacturing a violence narrative — is equally pointed. What gets lost in this tug-of-war is the 82-year-old man who came to exercise his democratic right and did not return home.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Udaynarayanpur polling booth on 29 April?
An 82-year-old voter, Purna Chandra Dolui, collapsed near the voting compartment at Booth No. 245 in Udaynarayanpur, Howrah, after casting his vote. He was rushed to Amta Hospital and declared dead on arrival.
What did Abhishek Banerjee allege about the incident?
TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee alleged on social media that central forces pushed and manhandled the elderly voter and his son, causing the man to collapse. He also claimed central forces had been terrorising voters since dawn.
How did the ECI respond to Abhishek Banerjee's allegations?
The ECI issued a statement quoting the General Observer for Udaynarayanpur, who visited the booth and said the man died due to sudden illness after casting his vote — not due to any manhandling by central forces.
What did the BJP say about the TMC's claims?
West Bengal BJP leaders said TMC was desperate to project violence during the second phase of polling and was attempting to frame an illness-related death as one caused by central forces, given that no actual violence had been reported.
What is the significance of Abhishek Banerjee's reference to Sitalkuchi 2021?
Banerjee invoked the 2021 Sitalkuchi incident — where central forces opened fire during polling, killing several people — to draw a parallel with the current alleged conduct of security personnel, a comparison the ECI and BJP both disputed given the facts on record.
