Mamata alleges EVM tampering in West Bengal

Kolkata witnessed rival protests by the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) late into Thursday night over allegations of tampering with voting machines kept in ‘strongrooms’ following the completion of polling in West Bengal.

The Election Commission rejected the allegations, saying there had been no tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs) or ballot boxes stored in secure facilities.

Strongrooms are designated locations where voting machines are stored under heavy security after being transported from polling stations. Alongside EVMs, these facilities also house ballot boxes containing postal ballots cast by polling staff, security personnel and others unable to vote at their designated centres.

The controversy began on Thursday evening when Trinamool Congress leaders alleged that there was an “illegal attempt” to open ballot boxes at the strongroom in Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata in the absence of representatives from concerned political parties.

The situation escalated as supporters of the two parties gathered at the site, leading to heightened tensions. The Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, part of the Netaji Indoor Stadium complex, is one of the key strongrooms in the state, storing EVMs and ballot boxes from seven assembly constituencies in north Kolkata under CCTV surveillance and central paramilitary security.

Trinamool Congress candidates Kunal Ghosh (Beliaghata) and Sashi Panja (Shyampukur) alleged, citing CCTV footage, that outsiders were seen entering the sealed strongroom. They staged a protest outside the facility.

Soon after, BJP candidates Tapas Roy and Santosh Pathak also arrived at the scene. Roy said they observed a large gathering of Trinamool supporters and questioned how slogans and protests were allowed near a strongroom, which is typically a restricted area.

Tensions flared as Trinamool supporters raised slogans of “Joy Bangla”, while BJP supporters responded with “Jai Shri Ram”. Central forces and senior state police officials intervened to bring the situation under control.

Trinamool Congress leader and Bhabanipur candidate Mamata Banerjee issued a video message alleging a lack of neutrality in the electoral process. She urged party workers and the public to remain vigilant and guard strongrooms round the clock, warning of possible attempts to replace EVMs before counting.

Later in the evening, Mamata visited the strongroom at Sakhawat Memorial School on Lord Sinha Road, where EVMs and VVPAT machines for the Bhabanipur constituency are stored. She remained inside the facility for nearly four hours.

Speaking to reporters after midnight, she alleged that “manipulation” was taking place at multiple locations, claiming that outsiders were opening ballot boxes and interfering with postal ballots. She also said she was initially denied entry by central forces before being allowed in by the returning officer.

Banerjee further alleged that if authorities failed to ensure proper security, it would reflect a failure on the part of the Election Commission, which is currently overseeing the process.

In response to the controversy, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal and North Kolkata District Election Officer Smita Pandey held an emergency press briefing around 11pm on Thursday.

Pandey said there is a statutory process for segregating postal ballots constituency-wise and that the exercise was underway in a designated corridor, not inside sealed strongrooms.

She added that political parties and candidates had been informed in advance about the process.

Agarwal asserted that all EVM strongrooms remain secure under a three-tier security system involving central forces and state police.

“Everything is being done as per rules. No unauthorised persons have entered, and there was no malicious intent,” he said.