Tensions escalated at a counting centre in Bhowanipore—West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s constituency—a day ahead of vote counting, after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged a security breach involving vehicles carrying BJP flags entering the premises where EVMs are stored. Banerjee is facing BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, now Leader of the Opposition and once her close aide, in a closely watched contest.
According to TMC workers, entry to the counting centre was being tightly controlled by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). However, they claimed that a “suspicious” vehicle was allowed inside despite not being seen in the area previously. When party members objected, they alleged they were pushed back by security personnel to a distance of nearly 100 metres.
TMC leaders further claimed that although officials initially indicated the vehicle would be removed, it remained parked inside the premises for some time before eventually leaving.
The Election Commission, however, dismissed the allegations. An official clarified that the vehicle had only passed along Harish Mukherjee Road and was permitted to proceed after routine checks by security forces and police found nothing objectionable.
The incident comes amid a string of similar claims by the ruling party in recent days. On Thursday, Banerjee staged a four-hour sit-in outside the Sakhawat Memorial Girls’ School counting centre, alleging “unauthorised access” to strongrooms.
Senior TMC leaders Sashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh also led protests outside another counting facility, raising concerns over irregularities in the absence of party agents.
Protests were also reported on Saturday at counting centres in Asansol College (Paschim Bardhaman) and Barasat Government College (North 24 Parganas), where TMC workers alleged that CCTV cameras were briefly switched off. The Election Commission rejected these claims as well, asserting that surveillance systems remained fully functional.
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