West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged the manipulation of electronic voting machines at the Bhabanipur strongroom late Thursday night.
The accusations come at a critical juncture in the state's electoral process, casting doubt on the integrity of the machines just before the final results are tallied. Any perceived breach in the security of the voting hardware could trigger widespread protests or legal challenges to the election outcome.
Banerjee spent four hours [3] at the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency strongroom in Kolkata to protest the lack of transparency. She said the strongroom had been opened without party representatives present. The incident occurred approximately 48 hours [1] before the scheduled vote count on May 4, 2026 [2].
Beyond the immediate concerns regarding the machines, the chief minister linked the situation to a broader political plot. She said the BJP conspired to cancel her Bhabanipur nomination. This allegation suggests a coordinated effort to remove her from the race through administrative or technical means.
Banerjee described the situation as a fight for the legitimacy of the democratic process. She said, "I will fight till death to protect the EVMs." The chief minister and the Trinamool Congress have demanded a transparent counting process to ensure that the will of the voters is accurately reflected.
The tension in Kolkata has escalated as the May 4 [2] deadline approaches. Supporters of the chief minister have echoed her concerns regarding the security of the Bhabanipur strongroom, a focal point for the current political standoff.
“"I will fight till death to protect the EVMs."”
The allegations of EVM tampering by a sitting Chief Minister signal a high level of distrust between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. By physically occupying the strongroom, Banerjee is attempting to prevent any potential manipulation of the results while simultaneously framing the BJP as an entity willing to undermine the democratic process. This strategy puts significant pressure on election officials to provide unprecedented transparency during the May 4 count to avoid civil unrest.
