The political climate in Diamond Harbour, West Bengal, intensified as it went to the polls under unprecedented security measures. The Election Commission (EC) deployed anti-terror specialists from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alongside thousands of central forces, responding to intelligence reports of potential violence and the discovery of crude bomb stockpiles in the South 24 Parganas district. This heightened security aims to prevent any disruption during the electoral process, particularly in a constituency historically marred by allegations of booth capturing and rigging, often referred to as the 'Diamond Harbour Model'.

Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a key figure in the Trinamool Congress (TMC), faces significant scrutiny as the BJP claims a climate of state-sponsored intimidation and cross-border smuggling. The BJP has pointed to Banerjee's substantial victory margins in previous elections as evidence of electoral malpractice, citing incidents such as footage showing tape over the 'Lotus' symbol on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which prompted an EC investigation.

As the TMC defends its governance record, highlighting improvements in health infrastructure and pandemic management, the upcoming 2026 assembly polls represent a critical test of its political dominance in the region.