Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee issued a sharp warning early Friday morning against any attempts to manipulate the electoral counting process. Her remarks followed an unannounced four-hour visit to an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) strong room in Bhabanipur, where she alleged potential malpractices were taking place. This visit occurred at Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, the designated counting centre for her own constituency. Emerging from the facility shortly after midnight, Banerjee emphasized that the protection of the people’s mandate is paramount and stated that her party would not tolerate any interference during the official count scheduled for May 4.
The Chief Minister’s late-night inspection coincided with escalating tensions across Kolkata, as TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja staged a sit-in protest outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. The demonstrators alleged irregularities in the storage and security of EVMs, leading to heated face-offs between TMC and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters. During her time at the Bhabanipur centre, Banerjee suggested the installation of CCTV cameras specifically for media monitoring to ensure maximum transparency. She also clarified that only one person—either the candidate or a single designated agent—would be permitted in the upstairs counting area to maintain a controlled and secure environment.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during her visit, Banerjee noted that Central forces initially attempted to block her entry into the premises. She maintained that her presence was a necessary response to specific complaints received by her office regarding the security of the machines used in the April 29 polling. While Banerjee was inside, Kolkata Mayor and fellow TMC candidate Firhad Hakim arrived at the scene but was unable to meet with her, as security protocols restricted access to the immediate area of the strong rooms. Hakim later confirmed to the press that while he could not speak to the Chief Minister directly, she was within her rights as a candidate to inspect the facility.
In the lead-up to the final tally, Banerjee has released video messages urging her party workers and polling agents to maintain a vigilant 24-hour watch over all strong rooms across the state. The political atmosphere in West Bengal remains incredibly charged following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with both major parties trading accusations of intimidation and fraud. As the state waits for the May 4 results, the Chief Minister’s latest actions underscore a deep-seated distrust in the administrative handling of the machines, setting the stage for a highly scrutinized counting day.
