Mamata breaks into EVM vault; TMC, BJP feud over tampering allegations: How the late-night drama unfolded

New Delhi: Kolkata streets witness showdown between two parties election committee Days after the West Bengal Assembly polls, the Trinamool Congress staged a sit-in protest alleging irregularities in the EVM’s vaults.Alleging procedural errors, TMC Leaders claimed that party members stationed outside the vault were asked to leave in the afternoon and later received word that the vault would reopen at 4pm.Talking about the incident, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “Party workers and supporters were outside the vault till 3.30 pm. Suddenly, an email came informing that the vault will be opened again at 4 pm. We contacted our staff and they said they had left. Then we rushed here. Now we are not allowed to enter.” bjp Being invited. “In a post onIn a strongly worded statement, the party claimed that CCTV footage showed ballot boxes being opened without the presence of an authorized representative of the party, calling it “serious electoral fraud”.The TMC further alleged that attempts to intimidate voters, remove names and misuse central power have failed, prompting the BJP to take “desperate measures” such as tampering with EVMs.“CCTV footage reveals how the BJP actively colluded with @ECISVEEP to open ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders. This was a gross electoral fraud carried out openly with the full knowledge and protection of the Election Commission,” the TMC posted.Mamata arrives at the counting centerAfter the TMC top leadership, the situation further escalated Mamata Banerjee Braving heavy rain, we arrived at the counting center in Babanipur assembly area.Claiming that her party had received reports of EVM tampering at many places in the state, Mamata said, “There is a vault of EVMs here. We found that tampering was happening at many places. When I saw the CCTV on TV, I thought I should go and see it too. Initially, the central forces did not let me enter.” But under our election rules, candidates and election agents of any political party can enter the sealed room.“The chief minister also urged citizens to maintain peace and harmony at this critical time. “Victory is certain,” she said.“Bengal refuses to bow to the Boyla Gotos of Delhi and Gujarat who are trying to subjugate a people whose soul they can never understand. Every misdeed, every overreach and every heavy-handed approach by the BJP and its central forces against our people will be responded to. Once the results are known, every violation will be paid in full through the ruthless power of the democratic process. ” TMC wrote on X.BJP counters TMC sit-in protestThe TMC’s protest was countered by the BJP after leaders from Maniktala and Cholanji arrived at the spot. They also confronted senior police officers and asked why TMC workers were allowed to gather at sensitive places and raise slogans.BJP leaders present at the venue alleged that the TMC was “fabricating false narratives and lying to the people”.Tapas Roy said, “I rushed to the place after learning about the riots and found TMC supporters howling outside the venue. They cannot do this in such a sensitive place. They should not be allowed to gather here. They are abusing us.”“I heard that district election officials took TMC candidates inside to show that there was nothing wrong with the vault,” he added.The BJP workers also stopped a TMC vehicle, claiming that the vehicle was carrying suspicious items.“There is something in the car. Mamata Banerjee has brought something in her car. The vehicle will not be allowed to move,” a worker claimed.Another BJP worker said: “They (TMC) will place duplicate machines and tamper with them… What are TMC vehicles doing outside the counting centres?”European Commission rejects TOLLWest Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, however, said the EVM vault was “safe and secure” and insisted that the incident was not “controversial”.Agarwal told news agency ANI: “The CCTV was not switched off. CCTV footage of all 8 vaults, 7 EVMs and 1 postal ballot was being relayed there. Personnel of political parties could see this while sitting outside the three-tiered security. Around 4 pm, when our staff opened the postal polling room as per the rules, they saw some movement. As per the rules, all political parties were informed and all candidates were informed by the RO (electing officer).” “They were supposed to come here… After 4 pm, three candidates came and they saw that the EVM vault was sealed while the postal ballot vault was open. Then the three left,” Agarwal said.“There will be no law and order situation. These things will happen. The law and order situation is good. The counting of votes will be 100 per cent clean and tidy like the election,” he added.Agarwal maintained that the poll body had “nothing to hide” and stressed that they would not allow any “trouble” in the voting process.Officials, apparently referring to a video posted by the Trinamool Congress on its X handle, said all vaults containing polled EVMs were securely secured and sealed. They noted that mail-in ballots are routinely segregated.HC rejects TMC’s requestIn another development, the Calcutta High Court also dismissed TMC’s plea challenging the Election Commission of India’s order to deploy central government and PSU employees for counting of votes.The court upheld the validity of the decision requiring Central Government/PSU employees to serve as supervisors and assistants and dismissed the writ petition.It noted that any grievance can be raised through an election petition under Section 100 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.Earlier, Mamata claimed that “outside observers” and police who are not familiar with Bengal are being deployed in a manner that targets TMC workers during the second phase of polling.SIR concerns dominated Bengal elections and were cited as the reason for the highest turnout in Bengal since independence. However, political tensions between the TMC and the BJP over deployment of security forces also heightened on polling day.Competition in Madhya Pradesh, controversy over particularly intensive revisions to electoral rolls and several other factors have made the Bengal assembly elections one of the most hotly contested in recent years.Most exit polls predicted a close contest between the TMC and the BJP, with polls showing the two parties holding around 145 seats each in the 294-member parliament, while smaller parties and independents were expected to occupy only marginal seats.