New Delhi:

Amid reports of violence in West Bengal on the first day of Lok Sabha polls, BJP leader Agni Mitra Paul said “Bengal has turned into Bihar” and claimed that the Trinamool state Major parties try to silence opponents through “threats or murder.”

Three seats in North Bengal are going to polls in the first phase: Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. Sporadic violence was reported in Cooch Behar, where clashes occurred between BJP and Trinamool workers. There have been numerous complaints of violence and voter intimidation from both parties. However, a senior polling official said they had received some complaints but no reports of violence, news agency PTI reported.

Video | This is what BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said (@paulagnimitra1) was speaking on the sporadic violence in West Bengal during the first phase of polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“We used to see something like this in Bihar a few years ago, but Bengal has become the new Bihar, the new Kashmir. Booth… pic.twitter.com/vz0yu6qN3i

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 19, 2024

At 3 pm, eight hours after polling began, the turnout for this seat was 66.3. All three Bengal seats polled today have been reserved – Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri representing Scheduled Castes and Alipurduar representing Scheduled Tribes. Union minister Nisith Pramanik is one of the high-profile candidates who is contesting from Cooch Behar from the BJP.

In a video statement shared by PTI, Ms Paul said: “We used to see something like this in Bihar a few years ago, but Bengal has turned into the new Bihar, the new Kashmir. Booth The President is being kidnapped. Opponents must be silenced…either through threats or murder…this is Mamata Banerjee’s politics in West Bengal.”

Ms. Paul, MP from Asansol South, is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Medinipur as a BJP candidate.

Ms Paul’s comments were part of the political blame game that began after the violence.

North Bengal Development Minister and Trinamool leader Udayan Guha told PTI: “The BJP along with central forces has unleashed a reign of terror to rig the elections. Our workers are being harassed and beaten.”

The BJP has denied the accusations and claimed they were being targeted in many areas. Pramanik said: “The TMC feels defeated and is trying to intimidate voters. BJP workers are being attacked in various districts. Wherever Udayan Guha goes, he incites people into violence. In many places, even Media personnel were also attacked.

In a social media post, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters to vote “against infiltration and corruption”.

“Polling for the first phase of the West Bengal Lok Sabha elections is underway today. I appeal to the people to vote for a government that can ensure poverty alleviation programs at the grassroots, prevent infiltration and corruption, provide justice and security to the people and women,” he said on X Post.

In response, Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said that stopping infiltration was the job of the home minister’s office and the BSF.

“People of Bangladesh voted for @AITCofficial because 1) @MamataOfficial’s projects are the best in terms of poverty alleviation. The Center has not paid its dues. 2) Preventing infiltration is the job of Amit Shah’s office and BSF. 3) When it comes to corruption, India The BJP is the best. 4) The TMC respects women unlike the states ruled by the BJP where incidents like Unnao, Hathras and Prayagraj happened.”