'Go back' slogans greet Humayun Kabir at polling booth in Murshidabad

Tensions flared in Murshidabad's Naoda Assembly Constituency on polling day after Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir faced protests outside a polling booth in Shibnagar village.

The incident triggered chaos, with Kabir strongly accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of interference. However, the TMC countered the claims, alleging that Kabir was moving around with individuals involved in a bombing incident in Naoda the previous night.

Also Read | West Bengal Elections 2026 phase 1: Key seats, candidates and what’s at stake

'Go back' slogans raised

Kabir, who arrived early to cast his vote, was met with a group of protesters raising "go back" slogans. The situation escalated as demonstrators surrounded his vehicle and accused him of being a "BJP agent". The protest created a tense atmosphere in and around the polling station.

Kabir, currently an MLA from Bharatpur in Murshidabad, is contesting the election after forming his own party. He was suspended from the Trinamool Congress in December last year following his remarks proposing the construction of a Babri-like mosque.

Moment caught on camera

Amid the commotion, visuals showed Kabir appearing visibly agitated as aides attempted to calm him by fanning him. The scene quickly drew attention online, with clips of the incident circulating widely.

Also Read | West Bengal polls 2026: High-profile battles to watch in phase 1 today

Polling in the constituency continued under security presence, even as the brief disruption highlighted the charged political environment in parts of the district.

Polling continues

Meanwhile, a voter turnout of 41.11% was recorded till 11 am in the first phase of polling. In the last two hours, 19.84% votes were cast in Jhargram, 19.01% in Birbhum, 15% in Purulia, 18.80% in Darjeeling. 18.74% votes were cast in Kalimpong, 16.96% in Malda, 18.88% in Murshidabad, 19.00% in West Burdwan, 20.51% in West Midnapore, 18.81% in East Midnapore, 17.70% in Alipurduar, 20.20% in Bankura, 17.56% in Cooch Behar, 18.81% in South Dinajpur and 18.50% in Jalpaiguri.

West Bengal has entered a crucial phase of its 2026 Assembly elections, with voting underway in 152 out of 294 constituencies spread across 16 districts. Around 3.6 crore voters are expected to cast their ballots in this phase, covering key regions such as Nandigram and parts of north Bengal including Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar. Early assessments suggest that nearly 80 of these seats could witness closely fought contests, setting the tone for the rest of the election.