West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a blistering warning regarding alleged irregularities with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) after a high-stakes, three-hour vigil inside a Kolkata strongroom. She declared on Friday that any attempt to manipulate the machines or subvert the counting process would be met with a "life-and-death" struggle, setting a combative tone just days before the official results are due.
The Chief Minister arrived at Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, a key distribution and reception centre for the Bhabanipur constituency, following the circulation of a viral video that purportedly showed unauthorised activity where EVMs and ballots are stored. Banerjee claimed she was prompted to act after witnessing CCTV footage on television that suggested manipulation was taking place. Although initially blocked by central security forces, she eventually gained access by asserting her rights as a candidate, noting that election protocols permit candidates and their agents to monitor sealed facilities.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has since intensified its rhetoric, accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of working in concert to orchestrate a "conspiracy" against the state's ruling party. In a series of provocative statements on social media, the TMC alleged that ballot boxes were being opened without proper oversight and that the BJP had drafted in "operatives" from other states to create a media spectacle outside counting venues. While the party insisted it remained committed to peace, it warned that it could mobilise thousands of supporters in minutes should the integrity of a single EVM be compromised.
Banerjee has also dismissed the latest exit poll projections, which suggest a significant shift in West Bengal’s political landscape. While several polls, including Today’s Chanakya, predict the BJP could secure up to 192 seats—well clear of the 147-seat majority—the Chief Minister labelled these figures a form of "psychological warfare" designed to demoralise her workers. Drawing parallels to the 2021 elections where similar projections failed to materialise, she urged her supporters to maintain a 24-hour watch over counting centres to prevent any "plot" to swap machines during transit.
In response, the Election Commission of India has flatly rejected the TMC’s allegations, maintaining that all strongrooms are secure and that procedures have been followed to the letter. Officials clarified that the final rooms were sealed in the presence of observers and candidates’ agents, and that separate facilities for postal ballots were established with prior notice to all political parties. As the state waits for the final count on May 4, the atmosphere remains thick with tension, with the record 90 per cent voter turnout leaving both sides claiming a path to victory.
Also read: Strongroom chaos: TMC claims EVM breach; EC rules out 'tampering'
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