Poll official objects to government advertisement during training in Bengal’s Nadia; alleges assault

A man on poll duty was allegedly assaulted after he objected to being shown a government advertisement during a training session for poll duty in Nadia district of West Bengal on Friday, March 27, 2026, officials said.

Also read: Developments in poll-bound states on March 27, 2026

The incident took place at a training center set up in a school in Ranaghat.

According to some participants, a government advertisement featuring Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was played on the projector before the session began, prompting objections from some poll officials who said the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was in place.

“When the ad was shown, a few of us expressed concerns as to why such content was being shown during an election-related education session,” said a poll official who was present at the venue.

One of the poll officials, identified as Saikat Chattopadhyay, claimed that he was attacked for protesting the screening.

“I questioned why a government advert bearing the prime minister’s picture was shown despite the MCC being in force. I was later physically attacked and threatened,” he said.

He also expressed concerns about the safety of election personnel. “The fact that such incidents occur during training raises serious questions about the safety of polling personnel during elections,” he said.

Following the incident, it was reported that many polling officials stopped the training session and staged a protest in the area. According to sources, tension has been going on in the region for a while.

Nadia District Magistrate Srikanta Palli said the matter was being investigated.

“We have received information about the incident and are verifying the facts. Necessary action will be taken based on the findings,” he said.

Reacting to the incident, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar criticized the state government and urged the Election Commission to intervene.

“A poll official was attacked. If such incidents occur, it will be difficult to ensure free and fair elections under the current dispensation,” he said, demanding immediate action from the Commission.