Asansol:  Violence erupted during byelection for the Asansol Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal on Tuesday, according to news agency ANI. Agnimitra Paul, the Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate for this seat, criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the violence and said the police did not intervene.

"TMC members attacked us and threw stones at our convoy. "Police are doing nothing," Agnimitra was quoted as saying by the news agency.. 

She blamed the violence on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating, "TMC people attacked our security with bamboo sticks... "No matter how hard Mamata Banerjee tries, the BJP is winning in this state."

The BJP candidate also criticised Mamata Banerjee for her remarks about the rape and murder of a minor in Nadia district.

"I'm ashamed that as a woman and the state's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee made despicable comments about whether the rape victim (Nadia minor rape & murder case) had a love affair or was pregnant," she remarked.

Polling has begun in West Bengal for the Lok Sabha seats of Asansol and Ballygunge. Asansol Lok Sabha member Babul Supriyo resigned after joining the TMC, and the Ballygunge seat became vacant following the death of minister Subrata Mukherjee last year.

The TMC has fielded actor Shatrughan Sinha in the Ballygunge seat, and Babul Supriyo in the Asansol seat.