Bengal Strongroom Vigil: Mamata Vows ‘Life and Death’ Fight Over EVM Safety
KOLKATA – A high-voltage second phase of polling in West Bengal concluded with intense late-night drama as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited an EVM holding centre following serious allegations of vote manipulation. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo spent nearly four hours at a South Kolkata strongroom, vowing a “life and death” struggle to protect democratic integrity ahead of the May 4 results.
Late-Night Faceoff at Strongrooms
The controversy ignited around 8:30 PM on Thursday. It began after the TMC shared CCTV footage showing suspicious movement inside Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. This facility stores the North Kolkata EVMs. TMC leaders Sashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh immediately staged a sit-in protest outside Netaji Indoor Stadium. They claimed that officials opened ballot boxes without authorised party agents present. While protests swelled in North Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee rushed to Sakhawat Memorial School. This site serves as the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency. Initially, Central Forces blocked her entry. However, she eventually entered the building in her capacity as a candidate. She stayed inside until after midnight. At 12:07 AM, she emerged to issue a stern warning. She promised fierce resistance against anyone attempting to “steal the counting.”
EC Rejects Claims, Cites Routine Protocol
The Election Commission (EC) rejected the tampering accusations as a false alarm. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal explained that officials kept every EVM room sealed and unaltered.
- Regular Activity: According to officials, the CCTV film demonstrated the permitted separation of postal ballots in a different location.
- Transparency: The EC insisted that this procedural action was disclosed to all political parties beforehand.
BJP Slams “Panic Reaction”
Moreover, the BJP leadership rubbished the TMC’s narrative. Specifically, they called it a sign of desperation after exit polls predicted a BJP victory. In addition, Suvendu Adhikari shared footage of his own agent. This agent maintained a “strict watch” on Banerjee inside the premises. Furthermore, other leaders, including Priyanka Tibrewal, mocked the “rattled” TMC. Consequently, they highlighted the 24/7 CCTV surveillance operating at every site.
Conclusion
Although the immediate TMC protests fizzled out, the political climate remains volatile. Mamata Banerjee has directed her workers to maintain a 24/7 vigil outside all strongrooms until counting day. As both sides prepare for the final verdict, the Election Commission has further tightened security to prevent any potential unrest in the lead-up to the result.