BJP accuses Trinamool of ‘booth jam, rigging’ in Kaliganj bypoll; voting continues amidst rain

Voters stand in a queue to cast their vote for the Kaliganj by-elections, at a polling station in Nadia on June 19, 2025 | Photo Credit: ANI

In West Bengal’s Kaliganj, one of the five Assembly Constituencies across the country, which went to bye-election on Thursday (June 19, 2025), allegations flew thick and fast.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Ashish Ghosh, alleged that polling officials deliberately marked with ink on his middle finger instead of the customary index finger. “This was done in a pre-planned manner. Initially, they did not put ink on my finger. Then they did, after I went back for it. But before I could say anything, they put the ink on my middle finger. This was premeditated,” Mr. Ghosh alleged after he cast his vote in a booth at Debgram in Kaliganj.

The bye-election to the Kaliganj seat in Nadia district was necessitated after the passing of Trinamool Congress MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed on February 2. The seat saw a three-pronged contest with Mr. Ahmed’s daughter Alifa Ahmed as the Trinamool candidate, Ashish Ghosh for the BJP, and Kalbiluddin Sheikh of the Congress, who fought in alliance with the Left front, in the fray.

On Thursday (June 19, 2025), the BJP accused the Trinamool of ‘booth capturing’ at multiple places in Kaliganj. “The Trinamool did not allow our polling agents in two booths. I have informed the Election Commission. Booth jam and rigging are part of the Trinamool’s culture,” Mr. Ghosh said.

However, the Trinamool candidate, Ms. Ahmed, denied such allegations and said the opposition parties do not have “organisational strength in Kaliganj” and should focus on “working for the people” instead.

Rain mars polling

Voting continued on Thursday (June 19, 2025) amidst pouring rain in the constituency.

“I am confident that the people of Kaliganj will stand by our side… However, we are fighting not just against two political entities today but also the adverse weather conditions. It has been raining heavily since morning,” Ms. Ahmed said.

While there were no reports of violence, many local people alleged that they could not arrive at their polling booths due to lack of transport, including ferry boats.

As of 5 p.m., Election Commission officials pegged the turnout in Kaliganj at nearly 70%. The number is expected to increase as the voting closes.

Kaliganj has 2,52,670 electors in total, according to the revised electoral list published by the Election Commission on May 5. A total of 14 companies of central forces had been deployed in the constituency for the bypoll.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari took to social media to accuse the Trinamool Congress of displaying ‘regional bias’ and an ‘anti-Gujarati mindset’ in its letter to the Chief Election Commissioner dated June 18, 2025, regarding the selection of a Gujarat-based webcasting agency for polling in the Kaliganj constituency.

Published - June 19, 2025 10:10 pm IST