Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim accuses CRPF, police observer of midnight threats
Synopsis
Barely 36 hours before West Bengal's final voting phase, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim claims a CRPF commander and a police observer showed up at his home past midnight and warned him against interfering in polling — a charge that has set off a fierce political row over the Election Commission's use of central forces.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim alleged a CRPF commander and a police observer raided his Chetla residence after midnight on Tuesday, 29 April .
The incident occurred 36 hours before the second and final phase of West Bengal elections.
Hakim claimed he was warned not to interfere with polling agents or face consequences.
The Election Commission deployed 273 companies of central forces in Kolkata alone for the second phase.
TMC candidate from Falta constituency , Jahangir Khan , also alleged police observer Ajay Pal Sharma threatened his family members and locals.
The TMC has formally slammed the Election Commission for allegedly using observers to intimidate its candidates.
Kolkata Mayor and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from the Kolkata Port constituency, Firhad Hakim, has alleged that a CRPF commander and an Election Commission-appointed police observer arrived at his residence in Chetla after midnight on Tuesday, 29 April, and issued direct threats — barely 36 hours before the second and final phase of voting in West Bengal. The incident has triggered sharp political controversy in the city, with the TMC accusing central agencies of intimidating its candidates on the eve of polling.
What Hakim Alleged
According to Firhad Hakim, central forces and police observers arrived at his Chetla home unannounced in the early hours of Tuesday. He claimed he was summoned and warned directly. In his own words:
Point of View
The optics hand the TMC a ready-made narrative of central overreach. What is missing from the public record is any response from the Election Commission or the CRPF clarifying the purpose and legal basis of the visit. That silence, more than anything, will fuel the controversy. West Bengal elections have long been flashpoints for Centre-state friction, and this episode fits a familiar pattern — but that familiarity does not make the accountability question any less urgent.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Firhad Hakim's house after midnight?
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim alleged that a CRPF commander and an Election Commission-appointed police observer arrived at his Chetla residence after midnight on Tuesday, 29 April, and warned him not to interfere in polling or prevent agents from sitting in booths, threatening consequences if he did.
When did the alleged midnight raid on Firhad Hakim's house take place?
The alleged visit took place in the early hours of Tuesday, 29 April, approximately 36 hours before the second and final phase of West Bengal assembly elections was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
How many central forces were deployed in Kolkata for the second phase of voting?
The Election Commission deployed 273 companies of central forces in Kolkata alone to oversee the second and final phase of voting, in which the fate of candidates across 142 seats in the state was to be decided.
Has the TMC raised any other complaints about police observers?
Yes. TMC candidate from Falta constituency in Diamond Harbour, Jahangir Khan, also alleged that Election Commission-appointed police observer Ajay Pal Sharma issued threats to his family members and local residents. The TMC has formally condemned the Election Commission for what it describes as the use of observers to intimidate its candidates.
What did Firhad Hakim say about the alleged threats?
Hakim strongly protested the incident, comparing it to house searches during the Naxalite era. He said he had never rigged elections or used violence and questioned why he was being threatened. He also predicted that voters would respond to what he called an abuse of power through the ballot box on Wednesday.
