Bengal Election / Mamata Banerjee Spends 4 Hours Inside Strongroom, Alleges EVM Tampering; BJP Calls Allegations 'Rumours'
·2 hours ago·2 min read
Key Points
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee visited a strongroom at Sakhawat Memorial School for Bhabanipur segment, staying nearly four hours and alleging EVM tampering.
Kolkata/New Delhi, May 1: Political tensions escalated in West Bengal after a late-night controversy over alleged EVM tampering, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visiting a strongroom and her party staging protests ahead of counting on Thursday.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that strongrooms storing electronic voting machines were opened without authorised representatives present, just days before counting for the Assembly elections.
CM Spends Hours Inside Strongroom
Banerjee, accompanied by her election agent, visited the counting centre at Sakhawat Memorial School for the Bhabanipur Assembly segment and remained inside the strongroom for nearly four hours.
After exiting around midnight, she warned against any malpractice, stating that people’s votes must be protected and calling for enhanced transparency, including CCTV access for the media.
She also alleged that central forces initially restricted her entry into the premises.
TMC Protest at Netaji Indoor Stadium
Simultaneously, TMC leaders held a sit-in protest outside a strongroom at Netaji Indoor Stadium, where EVMs for several constituencies are stored.
Party leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh questioned the procedure, alleging that the strongroom was reopened without informing party representatives.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim also reached the site during the developments.
Election Commission Refutes Claims
The Election Commission of India dismissed the allegations, stating that all protocols were followed and that EVMs remain sealed and secure.
“The last strongroom was closed around 5:15 am. All strongrooms containing polled EVMs are safely secured,” the Commission said.
Also Read: Will Record Turnout Rewrite Power Equation in West Bengal?
BJP Hits Back
Senior BJP leader Tapas Roy rejected TMC’s claims, calling them “rumours” aimed at creating fear. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya termed Banerjee’s visit as “the clearest exit poll,” alleging political desperation.
High-Stakes Contest
The Assembly elections in West Bengal remain closely contested, with counting for all 294 seats scheduled on May 4 under tight security, as political rhetoric intensifies ahead of the results.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that strongrooms storing electronic voting machines were opened without authorised representatives present, just days before counting for the Assembly elections.
CM Spends Hours Inside Strongroom
Banerjee, accompanied by her election agent, visited the counting centre at Sakhawat Memorial School for the Bhabanipur Assembly segment and remained inside the strongroom for nearly four hours.
After exiting around midnight, she warned against any malpractice, stating that people’s votes must be protected and calling for enhanced transparency, including CCTV access for the media.
She also alleged that central forces initially restricted her entry into the premises.
TMC Protest at Netaji Indoor Stadium
Simultaneously, TMC leaders held a sit-in protest outside a strongroom at Netaji Indoor Stadium, where EVMs for several constituencies are stored.
Party leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh questioned the procedure, alleging that the strongroom was reopened without informing party representatives.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim also reached the site during the developments.
Election Commission Refutes Claims
The Election Commission of India dismissed the allegations, stating that all protocols were followed and that EVMs remain sealed and secure.
“The last strongroom was closed around 5:15 am. All strongrooms containing polled EVMs are safely secured,” the Commission said.
Also Read: Will Record Turnout Rewrite Power Equation in West Bengal?
BJP Hits Back
Senior BJP leader Tapas Roy rejected TMC’s claims, calling them “rumours” aimed at creating fear. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya termed Banerjee’s visit as “the clearest exit poll,” alleging political desperation.
High-Stakes Contest
The Assembly elections in West Bengal remain closely contested, with counting for all 294 seats scheduled on May 4 under tight security, as political rhetoric intensifies ahead of the results.
📱 Get Argus News App
✨📰 60 Word News🎬 Argus Podcast📺 Live TV and Breaking News🔔 Free Notification Alerts
Download Free:
Related Topics
Explore more stories