West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, 29 April referred to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as "Gunda" (hooligans) before quickly correcting herself, and alleged that the force had "assaulted" workers and leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. The controversial remark came as voting got underway across 142 constituencies in six districts, including the state capital Kolkata.

What Mamata Alleged

Speaking to reporters after visiting polling booths in South Kolkata, Banerjee claimed that a TMC worker was "beaten up" on Tuesday night and that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was attempting to "forcefully rig" the election. She also alleged that election observers, "brought from outside", were visiting police stations and "creating pressure" on local officials.

"See how our worker was beaten up at night... What is this hooliganism? This is not how voting is conducted; it is conducted peacefully. Voting is a festival of democracy. But they (the BJP) have completely ruined it. The intention is very clear that the BJP wants to forcefully rig the election. Our workers and people are ready to die, but they will not leave the place," Banerjee told reporters.

She further alleged that at around 2 a.m., a CRPF team visited the residence of her Ward 70 councillor without state police and "attacked" the home. "The councillor's wife and their children were alone at the time. When she said he wasn't home, the CRPF assaulted them, snatched their phone, and warned that he should not do any party work. I can show you the proof," she alleged, while self-correcting her use of the word "Gunda" mid-sentence.

Ground Situation Across Constituencies

Polling began at 7 a.m. with mild tension reported in certain pockets from the very first hour. In the high-profile Bhabanipur Assembly constituency — where Banerjee is contesting against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari — her brother Kartik Banerjee was cautioned by central forces for assembling near a police station with companions exceeding the permitted number.

In the adjacent Rashbehari constituency, also in South Kolkata, tension broke out after Indian National Congress (Congress) alleged that TMC activists were preventing their booth agents from entering a polling station, calling it "hooliganism" by the ruling party.

At Singur in Hooghly district, tension had been simmering since Tuesday night. Outgoing TMC legislator Bencharam Manna staged a protest in front of the local police station, alleging excesses by security forces. In Santipur Assembly constituency in Nadia district, polling at one booth started late due to an EVM malfunction.

Security and Administrative Arrangements

The second phase is being conducted under what authorities have described as an unprecedented security cover, with 2,407 companies of central forces deployed — comprising Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the India Reserve Battalion, and personnel from armed police wings of other states, supplemented by West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police. CCTV cameras have been installed across polling stations, and webcasting is being conducted at all booths. Mock polling, mandatory before the actual process, was carried out at all venues.

Districts Voting in Phase 2

The six districts going to polls in the second phase are Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia, and East Burdwan. The outcome of this phase — particularly the Bhabanipur seat — will be closely watched as a referendum on Banerjee's leadership ahead of the final count.