West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) urged party supporters to guard electronic voting machines to prevent the theft of the electoral mandate.
The call for vigilance comes as the state prepares for the announcement of assembly election results. These allegations of manipulation suggest a high-tension environment between the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition forces during the final counting phase.
Banerjee issued the directive on May 3, the day before results were scheduled for announcement on May 4, 2026 [4]. She said that cadres must stay awake all night to protect the machines and the people's vote. The Chief Minister said that exit polls are rigged and that the party cannot allow anyone to steal the mandate.
Banerjee attributed the need for vigilance to suspected attempts to manipulate the outcome. She said that there were deliberate power cuts and CCTV shutdowns designed to facilitate tampering with the EVMs.
These tensions follow a period of high voter engagement across the state. During Phase 2 of the elections, over 61 percent [1] of the 3.21 crore [2] total electorate had exercised their franchise by 1 p.m. By 7 p.m. that same day, polling recorded over 91 percent [3].
Despite the high turnout, Banerjee remained focused on the security of the ballots. She said that party workers must remain vigilant across multiple constituencies where voting occurred, and where counting centers are located. The Chief Minister said that the integrity of the vote must be maintained against external interference.
“"We must guard the people's vote and stay awake all night to protect the EVMs."”
The Chief Minister's call for party cadres to physically monitor voting machinery reflects a deep distrust of the electoral process and the reliability of exit polling. By framing the situation as a battle to 'protect' the mandate from technical tampering and power failures, the TMC is preparing its base for a potentially contested result, which may increase the risk of civil unrest at counting centers.
