Elephant ‘Joins the Queue’ in Jhargram; Brief Panic 

Kolkata: In a bizarre and quintessentially rural twist to the West Bengal Assembly elections, an elephant caused a brief stir on Thursday morning after appearing to “join the queue” at a polling station in Jhargram’s Jitushol.

The incident occurred at Jitushol Primary School just as voters were beginning to assemble for the first phase of polling. The elephant, affectionately known to locals as ‘Ramlal,’ wandered in front of the booth, sparking immediate alarm among those waiting to cast their ballots.

Ramlal’s Brief Visit

Despite the initial panic, Ramlal lived up to his reputation for being relatively calm. He took a brief look at a goods vehicle parked near the entrance before moving away of his own accord without causing any injuries or damage.

Forest workers from the Lodhashuli range arrived shortly after and guided Ramlal to a safe distance, allowing polling to commence smoothly. A large crowd of curious onlookers gathered to witness the encounter, which became an early highlight of the election day in the district.

Forest Department on High Alert

To manage the persistent elephant menace in the region, the Forest Department has deployed a specialized team of 15 personnel and an ‘Airavat’ (heavy-duty elephant management) vehicle. Additionally, Quick Response Teams, including the Elephant Trekkers and experienced Hula Parties, remain on active patrol to monitor other elephant groups moving through the district.

Security and Phase One Details

Jhargram is part of the 152 constituencies voting in the first phase of the West Bengal polls. The Election Commission has implemented unprecedented security for this phase, deploying 2,407 companies of central forces alongside state and Kolkata police personnel.

The remaining 142 constituencies will head to the polls on April 29, with results for the high-stakes election scheduled for May 4.