Elections – Mamata Banerjee Visits Kolkata Counting Centre Amid EVM Concerns
Elections – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday made an unannounced visit to a vote counting facility in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur constituency, drawing attention to concerns raised by her party over the security of electronic voting machines. Despite persistent rainfall across the city, Banerjee reached the Sakhawat Memorial School premises in the evening and spent time inside the designated strong room area alongside her authorised election representative.
Visit Raises Questions Over Counting Centre Security
The chief minister’s presence at the counting centre came at a sensitive moment, as political activity intensified ahead of the vote tally. Her visit followed a series of claims by the Trinamool Congress regarding potential irregularities in how EVMs were being handled. Party leaders suggested that vigilance was necessary to ensure transparency in the process.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who is contesting from the Kolkata Port Assembly segment, also arrived at the site soon after hearing about Banerjee’s visit. However, he stated that access to the strong room was restricted and that he was unable to meet her or verify what was happening inside. According to Hakim, candidates are allowed certain rights to inspect such facilities, but entry remains tightly controlled.
Protests Erupt Over Alleged Irregularities
Elsewhere in the city, tensions escalated outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata. Senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja led a sit-in demonstration, alleging procedural lapses related to EVM storage. Their protest followed reports that party workers stationed near the strong room had been asked to vacate the area earlier in the day.
The situation grew more contentious after workers reportedly received an email stating that the strong room would reopen later in the afternoon. By the time party representatives returned, they claimed they were denied entry, while members of rival political parties were allegedly allowed inside. These developments prompted immediate objections from TMC leaders on the ground.
Allegations of Movement Inside Strong Room
Kunal Ghosh raised further concerns, pointing to visuals that he claimed showed activity inside the facility. He questioned why ballot materials appeared to be in motion and sought clarification from election authorities. Ghosh also highlighted inconsistencies in communication, asking why all stakeholders were not informed about the reopening of the strong room.
Shashi Panja echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the sensitivity of strong room operations. She argued that any access to such facilities should be conducted with full transparency and prior notice to all political parties involved. According to her, the absence of proper communication raised serious questions about procedural fairness.
Party Leadership Calls for Vigilance
Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee had addressed party workers through a video message, urging them to remain alert during the counting process. She called on candidates and supporters to actively monitor counting centres and safeguard the integrity of the election outcome. Banerjee also warned of possible attempts to interfere with EVMs during transportation, urging her party to treat the situation with seriousness.
Her remarks reflected growing unease within the party ranks, as leaders called for heightened scrutiny at every stage of the counting process.
Accusations Against Election Authorities
In a separate statement shared on social media, the Trinamool Congress alleged that the Election Commission of India had failed to ensure transparency. The party claimed that surveillance footage indicated ballot boxes were opened without the presence of authorised representatives.
Describing the situation in strong terms, the party accused election authorities of allowing irregular practices and alleged collusion with political opponents. These claims have not been independently verified, and no official response from the Election Commission was immediately available.
As counting continues, the developments have added a layer of tension to the electoral process in West Bengal, with competing narratives emerging from political stakeholders.