A high-octane political drama unfolded in West Bengal on Thursday night, just one day after voting for the final phase concluded in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spent nearly four hours inside a counting centre strongroom in Kolkata to "take stock" as she alleged EVM tampering attempts by the Opposition in the state.
Banerjee arrived late at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur, which houses an EVM strongroom, entered the premises as a candidate and remained inside until around 12:07 am.
"I have come here because there is a strong room here for EVMs, we found manipulations at many places, so when I saw it on TV, I thought I should visit, I came, but the central forces restricted me, I told I have a right to go, as per election rule, candidates are allowed till outside the sealed room. I was then allowed... If there is manipulation, we will fight..." she told PTI.
She added, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People's votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
"If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated," Banerjee said.
The BJP hits back, with leader Suvendu Adhikari saying, "I wish to assure the esteemed community of voters that the Trinamool Congress candidate has been strictly instructed to refrain from availing any undue advantages. As long as she was present in the strong room premises, my election agent was personally there keeping her under strict surveillance so that she could not resort to any dishonest means."
BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya said, "She is very well aware that she is losing the polls… Her game has ended. People have passed their judgement. The TMC government is gone."
The CM's visit capped a tense day in the state. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders staged a sit-in outside Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, where EVM strongrooms for multiple constituencies are located. Leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja alleged that CCTV footage showed outsiders inside the premises "fiddling with ballot papers".
The Election Commission has rejected the allegations, saying all EVM strongrooms were sealed in the presence of candidates and observers after polling, and remained secure.
