BJP's Agnimitra Paul: 'Never seen such peaceful polls in Bengal'
Synopsis
BJP's Agnimitra Paul has called West Bengal's latest polls the most peaceful in the state's history — a striking claim given Bengal's long record of electoral violence. With voter turnout reportedly touching 97% in some constituencies and no major violence reported, Paul is crediting the Election Commission while urging every party, including her own, to accept the outcome without dispute.
Key Takeaways
BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul on 30 April 2025 called West Bengal's elections the most peaceful ever witnessed in the state or country.
Paul credited Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and West Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal for ensuring violence-free polling.
Voter turnout ranged between 92% and 97% across constituencies, which Paul described as unprecedented for India.
Paul said monitoring of EVM strongrooms by all parties — including CPM, Congress, ISF, and JUP — is a legitimate democratic exercise.
She appealed to all parties to accept the results to be declared on 4 May , stating there had been no rigging.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Agnimitra Paul on Thursday, 30 April described the recently concluded polling in West Bengal as unprecedented, asserting that neither the state nor the country had ever witnessed such peaceful elections. Speaking from Kolkata, Paul also urged all political parties to respect the final mandate once results are declared.
Paul Praises Election Commission
Speaking to news agency IANS, Paul credited Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, and the Election Commission of India (ECI) for ensuring smooth and violence-free voting across the state.
"We have never seen an election like this in West Bengal, and even India has never witnessed such an election. We salute the entire Election Commission team. We never imagined that such elections could be conducted even without imposing Article 356," Paul said.
Historic Voter Turnout Figures
Paul highlighted extraordinarily high voter turnout as a defining feature of this electoral cycle, citing figures ranging between 92% and 97% across constituencies. She called the numbers unprecedented for any Indian election.
"India has never seen such numbers. It used to be said that Bengalis treat election day like a holiday — they eat, rest, and don't participate much. But the people of Bengal have proven that when they make a decision, it becomes like a tsunami," she remarked.
Paul, who herself contested from Medinipur in a previous election, noted that the contrast with past cycles — including 2019 and 2021 — was stark. Those elections were marked by widespread reports of violence, arson, and killings that drew national attention and criticism.
On EVM Monitoring and Strongrooms
Responding to concerns raised by candidates including Vijay Upadhyay of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) regarding the monitoring of strongrooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are stored, Paul said vigilance by all stakeholders is a necessary and legitimate part of the democratic process.
"We also don't have complete trust, so monitoring is necessary. You should monitor; we are monitoring too. CPM, Congress, ISF, JUP — everyone should monitor. In politics, blind trust shouldn't be placed," she said.
Appeal to Accept Democratic Mandate
Paul made a pointed appeal to all political parties to accept the results gracefully once announced on 4 May, emphasising that the conduct of the elections left no room for allegations of rigging.
"On the 4th, whoever wins — whoever the people have voted for — no one should say there was rigging, because there hasn't been any. We will humbly bow down and accept whoever wins," she said.
With results expected shortly, all eyes will be on whether West Bengal's historically contentious post-poll landscape remains as calm as the voting process Paul has described.
Point of View
And framing this election as uniquely peaceful is a way of pre-empting any post-result narrative of foul play. The 92–97% turnout figures she cites are extraordinary by any democratic standard and, if verified, deserve scrutiny: such numbers in a politically polarised state can reflect genuine enthusiasm or ground-level mobilisation pressure. Her call for all parties to monitor EVMs — while simultaneously urging acceptance of results — reflects the tightrope every party walks in Bengal's charged electoral culture. The real test of this 'peaceful election' claim will come not on counting day, but in the days that follow.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP's Agnimitra Paul say about the West Bengal elections?
Paul called the recently concluded West Bengal polls the most peaceful ever witnessed in the state or in India, praising the Election Commission for ensuring violence-free voting and extraordinary voter turnout between 92% and 97%.
Who did Agnimitra Paul credit for the peaceful elections in West Bengal?
She credited Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, and the Election Commission of India for the smooth conduct of the elections.
What voter turnout was recorded in West Bengal elections?
According to Paul, voter turnout ranged between 92% and 97% across constituencies, which she described as figures India had never seen before in any election.
Why is EVM strongroom monitoring significant in West Bengal?
Monitoring of strongrooms where EVMs are stored after polling is a standard democratic safeguard. Paul acknowledged that all parties — including BJP, TMC, CPM, Congress, ISF, and JUP — have the right and reason to station monitors, reflecting the historically low trust between political rivals in Bengal.
When are West Bengal election results expected?
Results are expected to be declared on 4 May, according to Paul's statement, in which she appealed to all parties to accept the mandate without alleging rigging.
