Following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, supporters vandalised a market and several houses, including homes and businesses belonging to Muslim families, on May 5.
The violence erupted a day after the results were announced. BJP supporters also damaged a local All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) office, breaking chairs, tearing banners and burning party flags. AITC has governed West Bengal since 2011.
The BJP’s historic victory in West Bengal has raised questions about whether the exclusion of Muslim voters played a significant role. A Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls removed around 9 million names (nearly 12% of voters).
Critics, including opposition parties, allege the process disproportionately targeted Muslim communities in key districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, and North 24 Parganas, potentially shifting outcomes in tightly contested seats