Bengal Strong Room Clash: TMC Protests EVM Row, Mamata Leads Vigil as EC Rejects Charges

Political tensions surged in Kolkata ahead of vote counting as the Trinamool Congress launched massive protests over alleged EVM tampering. Party leaders and workers gathered outside strong rooms, including at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, staging sit-ins and raising slogans against the alleged manipulation of voting machines and postal ballots. The controversy intensified after TMC released CCTV footage claiming that unidentified individuals were seen inside restricted areas without party representatives present. Senior leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh led protests, accusing officials and opposition members of attempting to access ballot boxes unlawfully. The situation escalated further when Mamata Banerjee personally visited strong room locations, including Bhabanipur, and remained there for several hours to oversee the situation. Banerjee alleged that central forces initially prevented her entry despite electoral rules allowing candidates and authorized agents to monitor sealed rooms. She claimed irregularities in the handling of postal ballots and warned of a larger conspiracy to influence election outcomes. TMC supporters maintained a vigil for hours, demanding transparency and continuous monitoring of strong rooms. In response, the Election Commission of India categorically denied all allegations, stating that EVMs are secured under a strict three-layer security system and remain sealed until counting. Officials clarified that the activity seen in the CCTV footage was part of a routine process of segregating postal ballots, conducted after informing all political parties. They also noted that party representatives were expected to be present during the procedure. The standoff led to confrontations between TMC and BJP workers, prompting deployment of heavy security to maintain order. As counting day approaches, the high-stakes political battle has intensified, with both sides accusing each other of undermining electoral integrity in one of India’s most closely watched contests.