A day after the second phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal concluded on Wednesday (April 29), both the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and chief challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have come up with accusations against each other on possible tampering of the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
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On Thursday (April 30), top TMC leaders Dr Shashi Panja, a state Cabinet minister, and Kunal Ghosh, a party spokesperson, sat on a dharna outside Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, the state capital, in the afternoon alleging that members of the BJP and officials of the Election Commission (EC) were trying to open the ballot boxes inside the venue, designated as a major strongroom hub for this election.
Video footage was also shared on the party’s media WhatsApp group to support their claim, purportedly showing the movement of some unidentified individuals in the restricted area. The Federal though could not check its authenticity.
Mamata rushes to site
It was learned later that Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was heading to Netaji Indoor Stadium to take stock of the situation soon after the news spread. The TMC leadership has been accusing the EC of acting in collusion with the BJP to defeat it, including through measures such as the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.
It was earlier the same day that Banerjee asked party leaders, candidates and workers to remain on high alert during counting and guard strong rooms housing the EVMs.
“You must guard the counting centres. If needed, I will also go and guard my area. Candidates must guard themselves. Stay awake. If I can do it, so can you. There is a plan to change the machines while transporting EVMs. Do not take this lightly,” she said.
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Both Panja and Ghosh are contesting this year’s elections. Their allegations of “suspicious movement” inside the strongroom came just four days ahead of the counting for the fiercely contested polls that many pollsters have predicted the BJP to win.
What Ghosh, Panja claimed
Speaking on the incident, 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.”
The TMC’s Belaghata candidate further alleged discrepancies in the process, claiming live streaming showed activity inside the strongroom.
Panja, who is contesting the Shyampukur constituency, remarked, “The strongroom is extremely sensitive. If it is opened, all political parties must be informed. Why was no one informed?”
The commission was yet to come up with its view on the latest allegations from the ruling party.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose condemned the incident. In a post on X, she called it “scandalous” and accused the EC and BJP of opening the ballot boxes in the absence of party representatives. “Destruction of democracy by the EC,” she said.
SCANDALOUS. @ECISVEEP & @BJP4India opening ballot boxes without party representatives present . DESTRUCTION OF DEMOCRACY by @ECISVEEP https://t.co/kk5TjthXXa
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) April 30, 2026
TMC, BJP engage in blame game
The allegations and counter-allegations over EVM tampering started even during the two-phase elections on April 23 and 29. Once, supporters of the TMC said all votes that were being cast in favour of the party during Phase 1 were going to the BJP in a booth and alleged that the machine had been tampered with. They also clashed with the central forces deployed in and around that booth.
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In Phase 2, the BJP alleged that buttons of EVMs were covered with black tape, adhesive substances, ink and even perfume so that its supporters could not vote for the lotus symbol. As many as 77 complaints were submitted to the EC, which was set to take a call on repolling in those booths where the alleged incidents took place.
EC issues press note on counting-day security
However, the EC issued a press release on Thursday, revealing that a strong mechanism will be in place for the counting day, which is May 4. According to the poll body, a QR-based ID system will be effective to strengthen security at the counting centres, so that no unauthorised person(s) could enter them. A three-tier security mechanism has also been prescribed for the verification of identity at the counting centres, the release noted.
(With agency inputs)
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