Phase 1 voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026 commenced on Thursday, covering 152 constituencies across 16 districts. Initial hours were peaceful, but tensions escalated with incidents of violence. A scuffle occurred in Murshidabad involving Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir, who reported being attacked by supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) after visiting an area affected by a crude bomb incident. Later, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate was chased and manhandled by alleged TMC workers in South Dinajpur. Additionally, the BJP's lotus symbol on an electronic voting machine (EVM) was vandalized with ink, prompting a response from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to ensure voting continued smoothly. The window of BJP leader Agnimitra Paul's car was also shattered during an alleged stone-pelting incident. By 1 PM, the voter turnout was reported at over 62.18%, reflecting significant public engagement in this contentious electoral battle.