West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Friday, 1 May issued a formal statement categorically rejecting claims made by All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee that an elderly voter was manhandled to death by central forces at a polling booth in Udaynarayanpur, Howrah district, during the second phase of West Bengal Assembly polls on 29 April. The CEO labelled the allegation a "fear-mongering attempt" and said the facts on record told an entirely different story.

What the CEO's Statement Says

According to the CEO's statement, the voter in question — Purna Chandra Dolui, 82 — arrived at booth number 245 in Udaynarayanpur accompanied by his son. Despite his frailty, Dolui exercised his franchise, with his son permitted inside the booth to assist him right up to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

"After voting, Dolui suddenly collapsed near the voting compartment due to age-related illness (heart exhaustion). He was immediately rushed to Amta Hospital and declared dead on arrival," the CEO's statement read. The statement stressed that the collapse occurred after Dolui had cast his vote and in the presence of his son.

Election Commission Observer's Recording

The CEO further stated that the entire episode was captured on record by the Election Commission of India (ECI)-appointed general observer for Udaynarayanpur. According to the CEO, the footage clearly established that there was no altercation or physical contact by central forces personnel prior to the collapse.

"There was no manhandling or push by the central forces," Agarwal stated categorically. This is a direct contradiction of the account put forward by Banerjee on social media, which had alleged that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel were responsible for the elderly voter's death.

CEO Defends CAPF Personnel

The CEO's statement went further, offering a pointed defence of the deployed security forces. "While the brave CAPF jawans continue to perform their difficult duty with professionalism and courage — working tirelessly across Bengal to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections for every citizen — they deserve our deepest respect and gratitude, not baseless lies or politically-smeared campaigns," the statement read.

Agarwal also described it as "most unfortunate" that the death of a citizen who had fulfilled his democratic duty was being exploited for political gains. "Democracy thrives on facts, not fear-mongering. Let truth prevail," he added.

Political Context and Wider Implications

The allegation by Banerjee had circulated widely on social media ahead of subsequent polling phases, raising tensions around the deployment of central forces in Bengal — a long-standing flashpoint between the TMC-led state government and the Centre. The TMC has historically opposed central force deployment during state elections, arguing it intimidates voters in areas sympathetic to the party.

This comes amid a broader pattern of competing narratives around poll violence and electoral conduct in West Bengal, where every phase of voting has been accompanied by claims and counter-claims from political parties and election authorities. With further phases of the Assembly polls still ahead, the dispute over Dolui's death is likely to remain a politically charged issue. The ECI observer's recording, if made public, could prove decisive in settling the factual dispute.