In the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (senior Congress leader) alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is using fear tactics to intimidate voters. Despite these claims, voter turnout has been notably high, with 78.68% reported by 3 PM on polling day. Chowdhury attributed this turnout to the presence of central security forces, which he believes has provided voters with the confidence to cast their ballots. The Election Commission has deployed around 2,500 companies of paramilitary troops to ensure security during the elections. Chowdhury pointed out that instances of violence have decreased compared to previous local body elections, as these polls are being conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission rather than the state election body. He expressed concern that intimidation and violence orchestrated by the TMC typically occur before and after the elections, rather than on polling day itself.