West Bengal Parties Allege EVM Tampering Ahead Of Vote Count

Kolkata, West Bengal – Tensions are rising in West Bengal as vote counting for the recent assembly elections approaches on May 4th. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged attempts to tamper with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), prompting a strong response from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The allegations center around unauthorized access to strongrooms where the EVMs are stored, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

According to reports from The Times of India, the TMC claims that individuals were caught on CCTV entering strongrooms at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in central Kolkata and Sakhawat Memorial High School, the strongroom for the Bhowanipore seat, late Thursday. CM Banerjee herself camped at Sakhawat Memorial High School, contesting against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in the Bhowanipore seat.

“Manipulation taking place,”

Mamata Banerjee

Banerjee has vowed a “life and death” fight to protect the integrity of the vote count, and has urged her party’s candidates across all 294 constituencies to maintain a round-the-clock vigil at EVM strongrooms until May 4th. She expressed fears of further attempts to tamper with the machines.

The Election Commission, however, has dismissed the allegations, asserting the security of the EVMs and postal ballots. CEO Manoj Agarwal stated that the strongrooms are protected by three-tier security and that access is restricted to authorized officers.

“There is nothing suspicious about it. The strongroom is ringed by three-tier security. No one can enter except for authorised officers,”

Manoj Agarwal, CEO

Kolkata North district election officer Smita Pandey explained that the individuals seen in the CCTV footage were EC-authorized representatives segregating postal ballots, a process that contesting parties were informed about in advance via email.

The TMC has also alleged manipulation of postal ballots, with party leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh staging a roadside protest at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. The party shared CCTV footage on social media, claiming it showed “gross electoral fraud” and accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of collusion.

“Alarming! What we have is the murder of democracy in broad daylight. CCTV footage has exposed how BJP, in active collusion with the EC, is opening ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders. This is gross electoral fraud being committed openly with the full knowledge and protection of the Election Commission.”

Trinamool Congress, via X (formerly Twitter)

In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed the TMC’s claims as “pure rumours” and an attempt to create a false narrative due to anticipated poor performance in the elections. A BJP vehicle was reportedly blocked by TMC workers in Bhabanipur, further escalating tensions.

To maintain order, the Election Commission is deploying approximately 70,000 central forces, particularly in areas prone to post-poll violence, ahead of the vote counting on May 4th. Control rooms will monitor the counting process for any disturbances, and the ECI has warned of strict legal action against those involved in violence, aiming to prevent a repeat of the incidents that occurred in 2021.