At least four people have been killed in political unrest across West Bengal after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the state Assembly election for the first time, police and party officials said. The BJP swept the polls in the eastern state of about 100 million people, winning 206 of the 294 Assembly seats in results announced on Tuesday, ending the rule of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had led the state since 2011 and also lost her own seat.

Source: Al Jazeera / AFP

Police said clashes between rival party supporters erupted in the state capital, Kolkata, and in other districts after the results were announced. The BJP said two of its workers were killed, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said two of its workers were beaten to death. A senior police officer, who was not authorised to speak to reporters, confirmed four deaths in the clashes and said one officer had been shot in the leg. Kolkata Police said a law-and-order situation arose on Tuesday in parts of the Topsia and Tiljala areas, during which miscreants vandalised public property.

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Parties trade blame over attacks

"Two of our workers were killed after results of the elections were announced on Monday," BJP state leader Samik Bhattacharya told the AFP news agency, insisting that the party stands "for peace". The TMC, in a statement on social media, reported the "brutal murder" of two party workers. "Our party offices were attacked in several areas of the state," TMC spokesman Narendranath Chakraborty told AFP, adding that two of the victims were grassroots political workers. The TMC also said its offices were vandalised by alleged BJP workers — allegations each side has levelled against the other, and which have not been independently established.

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Other reports put the toll at at least three dead with many injured, and said TMC party offices were damaged in multiple districts, with allegations of arson and targeted attacks after the results were declared. Authorities said security forces had been deployed across affected areas and were patrolling sensitive localities to prevent further escalation.

Source: Education Post

The Election Commission of India (ECI), which has denied allegations of misconduct in the polls, directed West Bengal's top officials to enforce "zero tolerance" towards any incidents of post-poll violence. "The ECI asked the state administration and security agencies to take all necessary steps to prevent intimidation, reprisals or clashes linked to the electoral outcome," public broadcaster All India Radio reported. Banerjee has refused to resign as chief minister, calling the BJP's win an "immoral victory" and alleging — without the claim being established — that more than 100 seats were looted by the BJP. Her term is set to end on Thursday, after which, under the Constitution, the governor can demand her resignation or wait for the term to expire before newly elected legislators are sworn in and a new government is formed.

Source: Al Jazeera / AFP