After voter turnout rises, Mamata Banerjee says poll panel must not turn into 'BJP panel'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday raised concern over the sudden rise in final voter turnout figures released by the Election Commission of India on Tuesday for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls and urged the Commission to be "impartial, instead of being the BJP's Commission".

"After the first and second phases, polling percentage was reported in various newspapers as per information from the Election Commission. Last night, I learnt that there was a sudden jump in final voter turnout by nearly 5.75% following a notice released by the Election Commission," Banerjee said while speaking at a public rally in Murshidabad's Farakka on Wednesday.

"You (ECI) should not become BJP's Commission. How did the polling percentage increase suddenly? In BJP-ruled states, it should be clarified if EVM machines are replaced or not. There are apprehensions of manipulation of results by the BJP. There were 19 lakh EVM machines which were missing. I would urge EC to clear people's doubt," Banerjee said.