The contrast between the 2021 and 2026 West Bengal Assembly election days could not have been sharper for Raj Chakraborty. In 2021, he was greeted warmly by residents of Barrackpore after the results. Five years later, the mood on the ground appeared dramatically different.
Videos shared by multiple media outlets showed the Trinamool Congress candidate, who is trailing in the 2026 elections, leaving the counting centre amid loud chants of “thief” directed at him.
Chaos outside the counting centre
The situation escalated further as visuals captured another disturbing moment — mud being thrown at the candidate. The clips, now widely circulated, show Raj walking out with his head lowered, without reacting to the crowd.
Security personnel quickly moved in, surrounding the producer-director-turned-politician and escorting him away from the spot. They were also seen wiping off the mud from his clothes. Despite repeated questions from journalists present there, Raj chose not to respond. Attempts to reach him later were unsuccessful, with his phone reportedly going unanswered.
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Electoral setback becomes evident
Even before the polls, there had been speculation that the 2026 elections might bring significant political changes in the state. However, the scale of the setback appears to have caught Raj off guard.
According to the latest available updates, BJP candidate Kaustav Bagchi is leading by a considerable margin. Reports suggest that this widening gap may have prompted Raj to leave the counting centre early.
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Slogans greet Rachna Banerjee
In a separate incident captured on video, BJP supporters were heard chanting “Jai Shri Ram” as TMC MP Rachna Banerjee arrived at the counting venue.
She responded briefly, saying that Lord Ram belongs to all of us.
