BJP Candidate Pranat Tudu Attacked During Sixth Phase of Lok Sabha Polling in West Bengal

GG News Bureau
West Midnapore, 25th May. BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Jhargram, Pranat Tudu, faced a violent attack in the Mangalapota area of Garbeta, West Midnapore district, during the sixth phase of polling on Saturday. Visuals showed security personnel using shields to protect Tudu as stones were hurled at them. A large stone narrowly missed hitting a person, while Tudu and his team, along with some media personnel, were seen fleeing the scene.

Tudu accused “Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons” of orchestrating the attack, claiming two of his security personnel suffered head injuries and had to be hospitalized. In response, the ruling TMC alleged that Tudu’s security officers had assaulted a woman waiting to vote, which they said incited the protest. Amit Malviya, the BJP’s Bengal co-incharge, also blamed the TMC for the attack, stating on X that people are voting to “kick out” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party.

According to the BJP, Tudu was en route to polling booths in Garbeta after receiving reports that their party agents were being barred from entering. “All of a sudden, TMC goons who had blocked the roads started hurling bricks at my car. When my security personnel tried to intervene, they were injured. Two CISF jawans accompanying me received head injuries and had to be hospitalized,” Tudu told PTI.

The TMC countered by claiming Tudu’s security personnel attacked a woman in line to vote, sparking the villagers’ outrage and subsequent protest. Vehicles used by media personnel were also vandalized during the chaos. A police team has been dispatched to the area to restore order, according to PTI.

The Jhargram Lok Sabha constituency was one of 18 won by the BJP in West Bengal in 2019, an increase from just two in the previous general elections. In 2019, BJP candidate Kunar Hembram defeated the TMC’s Birbaha Saren by a margin of about 12,000 votes. This year’s contest features Pranat Tudu of the BJP, Kalipada Soren of the TMC, and Sonamamu Murmu (Tudu) of the CPM.