Bengal vote count: TMC-BJP clash outside Bidhannagar strongroom ahead of Monday tally
Synopsis
On the eve of West Bengal's high-stakes vote count, TMC and BJP workers clashed outside the Bidhannagar strongroom — a flashpoint that encapsulates the bitter rivalry defining this election. With Mamata Banerjee personally briefing counting agents and the ECI ordering repolling in Falta, Monday's tally is already surrounded by controversy before a single vote is read.
Key Takeaways
A minor clash broke out between TMC and BJP workers outside the Bidhannagar counting centre in North 24 Parganas on Saturday night .
Central forces and Bidhannagar Police intervened; barricades were erected between the two groups.
BJP alleged TMC placed party flags at their camp; TMC claimed central forces lathi-charged their supporters.
The Election Commission of India ordered repolling in all booths of Falta Assembly constituency after electoral offences on 29 April .
Vote counting for 293 constituencies across 77 counting centres is scheduled for Monday .
Mamata Banerjee instructed TMC counting agents to demand recounts wherever BJP leads by 500–700 votes .
A minor clash broke out between All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers outside a counting centre in Bidhannagar, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, on Saturday night, police confirmed on Sunday. The incident occurred ahead of the high-stakes vote count for 293 Assembly constituencies scheduled for Monday across 77 counting centres in the state.
How the Clash Unfolded
According to police, tension erupted in front of the strongroom after a quarrel broke out between workers and supporters of the two parties. Slogans and counter-slogans were raised before the situation escalated into a physical clash. Central forces and Bidhannagar Police rushed to the spot, dispersing the crowd and erecting barricades between the two groups.
Rival Allegations
The BJP alleged that TMC workers had placed party flags at the BJP camp set up outside the counting centre, triggering the confrontation. TMC, on the other hand, claimed that central forces had lathi-charged their supporters — an allegation that has not been independently verified. Both sides were eventually separated without the situation escalating further.
Security Tightened Ahead of Count
Security has been significantly increased in and around the strongroom, and strict measures are in place outside all other counting centres. The administration has already banned fireworks and victory processions outside counting centres on counting day. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken several additional steps to tighten security across the state.
Falta Repolling and Mamata's Instructions
Separately, the ECI on Saturday ordered repolling in all booths of the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district after finding severe electoral offences during the second phase of voting on 29 April. As a result, votes will be counted in 293 of West Bengal's constituencies on Monday, with Falta excluded.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee held a virtual meeting with her party's counting agents on Saturday, instructing them to immediately demand a recount in any booth where the BJP leads by 500 to 700 votes. She also asked agents to stay overnight at a lodge or hotel on Sunday to ensure they reach counting centres as early as possible on Monday.
With counting set to begin Monday morning, all eyes will be on whether the security apparatus holds and whether the results deliver a clear mandate in what has been a fiercely contested two-phase election.
Point of View
Not just politically. The ECI's repolling order in Falta adds another layer of institutional scrutiny. Monday's results will test not just electoral arithmetic, but whether the post-result peace can hold in a state with a long history of political violence after polls.
NationPress
5 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened outside the Bidhannagar counting centre in West Bengal?
A minor clash broke out between TMC and BJP workers outside the Bidhannagar counting centre in North 24 Parganas on Saturday night, ahead of Monday's vote count. Central forces and Bidhannagar Police intervened, separated the groups, and erected barricades to restore order.
Why did the TMC-BJP clash occur at the counting centre?
According to police, a quarrel over party flags triggered the confrontation — BJP alleged that TMC workers placed their flags at the BJP camp outside the centre. TMC, in turn, claimed central forces lathi-charged their supporters, though this has not been independently confirmed.
When is the West Bengal Assembly election vote count scheduled?
Vote counting for 293 Assembly constituencies is scheduled for Monday across 77 counting centres in West Bengal. The Falta constituency has been excluded after the Election Commission ordered repolling there.
Why has the ECI ordered repolling in Falta?
The Election Commission of India ordered repolling in all booths of the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas after finding severe electoral offences during the second phase of voting on 29 April.
What instructions did Mamata Banerjee give to TMC counting agents?
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during a virtual meeting on Saturday, asked TMC counting agents to immediately demand a recount in any booth where the BJP leads by 500 to 700 votes. She also instructed agents to stay in a lodge or hotel on Sunday night to reach counting centres early on Monday.
