Voters in Kolkata s New Town area claim that they were stopped from voting in the West Bengal panchayat elections by "goons" blocking access to polling booths. Smart city residents belonging to the New Town Forum group had been protesting against their inclusion in the panchayat area and had also decided to boycott the polls. However, the group accused the ruling Trinamool Congress party of "using our boycott call to loot votes".
BJP and Congress held protests in different parts of West Bengal against poll violence and irregularities in panchayat elections. Violence and intimidation were reported during the polls, and several incidents of vandalization and assault were recorded.