Mamata Banerjee storms EVM strongroom; TMC, BJP trade tampering charges

The streets of Kolkata turned tense days after the West Bengal Assembly polls, as a confrontation unfolded between the Election Commission of India and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which staged a sit-in protest alleging irregularities in strongrooms housing EVMs, according to Times of India report.

TMC leaders claimed procedural lapses, alleging that party workers stationed outside the strongroom were asked to leave earlier in the day and later informed that it would be reopened at 4 pm.

The report mentioned that TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “Party workers and supporters were present outside the strongroom till 3.30 pm. Suddenly, an email was sent informing that the strongroom would be opened again at 4 pm. We contacted our workers and they said they had left. We then rushed here. Now we are not being allowed to enter. BJP is being invited.”


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In a post on X, the party termed the episode a “murder of democracy in broad daylight”, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was acting in collusion with the Election Commission to tamper with ballot boxes and EVMs. It further cited CCTV footage, claiming ballot boxes were being opened without authorised political representatives present, calling it “gross electoral fraud”.

“CCTV footage has exposed how BJP, in active collusion with the @ECISVEEP, is opening ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders. This is gross electoral fraud being committed openly with the full knowledge and protection of the Election Commission,” the TMC posted.

The situation escalated after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the counting centre for the Bhabanipur assembly segment despite heavy rain.

“There is a strongroom here for EVMs. We found that in many places, manipulation is taking place. When I saw the CCTV on TV, I thought I should also go and see it. Initially, the Central Forces wouldn’t let me enter. But according to our election rules, the candidate and election agent of any party are allowed up to the sealed room,” she said.

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Appealing for calm, Banerjee added, “Victory is certain.”

The TMC also said, “Bengal refuses to bow to the Bohiragotos of Delhi and Gujarat, who seek to subjugate a people whose soul they can never understand. Every act of wrongdoing against our people, every overreach, and every heavy-handed tactic by the BJP and their Central Forces will be answered. Once the results are in, every transgression will be paid for in full through the ruthless power of the democratic process.”

The protest was countered by BJP leaders, who reached the site and questioned the presence of TMC workers at a sensitive location. BJP leader Tapas Roy alleged that the TMC was creating a false narrative.

“I learnt about the commotion and rushed to this place and found TMC supporters howling outside the venue, which they cannot do in a sensitive place like this. They shouldn’t have been allowed to gather here. They verbally abused us,” he said, according to the TOI report.

“I heard the District Election Officer took the TMC candidates inside to show nothing was wrong at the strongrooms,” he added.

BJP workers also blocked a TMC vehicle, alleging it was carrying suspicious items. “There is something in the vehicle. Mamata Banerjee has brought something in her vehicle. The vehicle will not be allowed to move,” one worker claimed, while another said, “They (TMC) will put duplicate machines and tamper with them… What is the TMC vehicle of TMC doing outside the counting centre?”

However, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal rejected the allegations, asserting that all EVM strongrooms were secure.

“No CCTV was turned off. CCTV footage of all 8 strong rooms there, 7 of EVMs and 1 of the postal ballot, is being telecast. Political parties' people can sit beyond the three-layer security and see this. They saw some movement around 4 pm when our staff was opening the postal ballot room as per the rules. As per the rule, all political parties were informed, and all candidates were informed by the RO (returning officer),” he told ANI.

“They should have come here...After 4 pm, 3 candidates had come, and they saw that the EVMs' strong rooms were sealed while the postal ballot's strong room was open. The 3 then left,” Agarwal said.

“There will be no law and order situation. These things happen. The law and order situation is fine. Counting will be 100% neat and clean just like the elections were,” he added.

He maintained that the poll body had “nothing to hide” and that all procedures were being followed, clarifying that the activity seen in videos was routine handling of postal ballots.

Separately, the Calcutta High Court dismissed a TMC plea challenging the Election Commission’s decision to deploy central government and PSU employees for vote counting, upholding the directive and noting that grievances could be addressed through an election petition under the law.

The developments come amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with the Assembly elections emerging as one of the most closely contested in recent years, and exit polls predicting a tight race between the TMC and BJP.

(With TOI inputs)