West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 | CEO clarifies 82-year-old voter collapsed due to illness, not assault by central forces

Ahead of vote counting on May 4 in poll-bound West Bengal, the state’s Chief Electoral Office on Friday clarified that an 82-year-old man who collapsed at a polling booth died due to illness and not because of any assault by central forces.

West Bengal voted in a two-phase Assembly election this year, recording a voter turnout of 92.47 per cent.

In a statement shared on X, the West Bengal CEO said, “82-year-old Puma Chandra Dolui from Howrah’s Penro area went to Booth No. 245 in Udaynarayanpur on 29 April 2026 with his son to cast his vote.”

It added, “His son was allowed inside the booth to assist him right up to the EVM. After voting, Sri Dolui suddenly collapsed near the voting compartment due to age-related illness (heat exhaustion). He was immediately rushed to Amta Hospital but was declared brought dead.”

The statement further noted that the Election Commission’s General Observer had recorded that the collapse occurred after Dolui had cast his vote, with his son present inside the booth, and that there was no manhandling or push by central forces.

“It is heartbreaking that a frail 82-year-old’s natural passing while bravely fulfilling his duty as a voter is being exploited for political gain. In this moment of grief, let us show basic human decency: stop spreading unverified claims that dishonour his memory and hurt his family,” the statement added.

The clarification came after senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged on Wednesday that the elderly voter had died after being assaulted by central forces in Howrah district during second-phase polling.

In a strongly worded post on X, Banerjee accused the central forces deployed in the state of acting as the BJP’s “private army” and terrorising voters.

A post shared by the West Bengal CEO also included CCTV footage of the incident as evidence.

One of the videos, about three minute long, shows the elderly man heading towards the polling officer with a walking stick, accompanied by his son dressed in black shirt, who is seen assisting him inside as described in the CEO’s statement. At the 2:13 timestamp, the man is seen collapsing near the voting area before being carried outside.

A second footage shows the elderly man being carried out of the polling station by others, followed by his son carrying his belongings.

While DH could not independently verify whether the duo had been assaulted before arriving at the booth, the CCTV footage appears to show no assault by central forces at the polling station, contrary to the allegation made by the TMC leader.