Kolkata, 19 June (H.S.) -

A political controversy erupted during the bypoll in West Bengal’s Kaliaganj Assembly constituency after BJP candidate Ashish Ghosh allegedly made an obscene gesture while exiting a polling booth. The Election Commission has sought a detailed report on the matter, following widespread criticism and condemnation from the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning at Booth No. 173, located at Annapurna Primary School in Devgram, Nadia district. After casting his vote, Ghosh displayed the ink-marked finger to the media, which turned out to be his middle finger — a gesture widely considered offensive and inappropriate. The act quickly drew sharp reactions across political circles.

TMC spokesperson Devanshu Bhattacharya reacted strongly, stating, “The BJP has always shown this finger to the people after elections. This time, they’ve done it before the results are even out. This reflects their true mindset.” He also commented on social media, saying, “The candidate shows a finger and blames us for conspiracy?”

In response, Ashish Ghosh dismissed the allegations, claiming it was part of a “pre-planned conspiracy.” He alleged that polling officials deliberately applied the indelible ink to his middle finger, forcing him to show that finger to the camera. He blamed the election personnel for the confusion.

Taking note of the seriousness of the incident, the Chief Electoral Officer's office has begun a formal review. Sources confirm that the EC has demanded a comprehensive report on the incident.

Earlier in the day, Ghosh was also involved in an argument at Booth No. 54, located at Chandghar Model School in Devgram, where he alleged that the BJP polling agent was not being allowed inside. He accused the presiding officer of acting like a “TMC cadre.” However, the officer later clarified that it was a misunderstanding and confirmed that the BJP agent had been allowed to remain inside.

Reacting to the controversy, Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, TMC’s Kaliaganj block president, said, “The BJP is a party of outsiders trying to destroy Bengal’s culture. This incident is a clear reflection of that mentality.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh