Trinamool Congress workers alleged that a vehicle linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party entered an electronic voting machine strongroom without a security check.
The incident occurred during the counting period for the 2026 [1] West Bengal Assembly Elections. Because the strongroom houses the machines used to determine election results, any unauthorized entry raises questions regarding the integrity of the vote and the adherence to security protocols.
The breach took place at the EVM strongroom in Kolkata, located within the Bhabanipur constituency of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee [1, 2]. According to the allegations, a white car entered the secure area without undergoing the required security screenings [1, 2].
Workers said the vehicle bore both an Army marking and a BJP sticker [1, 2]. The presence of these markings on a vehicle entering a restricted zone led to a ruckus outside the counting center [1].
The Trinamool Congress said that the lack of security checks for the vehicle constitutes a serious lapse in election management [2]. The party has raised concerns over how a vehicle could bypass established checkpoints to reach the strongroom area [1, 2].
Officials have not yet provided a formal explanation for the vehicle's presence or the alleged lack of screening. The situation remains tense as party workers continue to demand transparency regarding the security of the EVMs [1].
“A white car bearing an Army marking and a BJP sticker entered the EVM strongroom without any security check.”
This allegation highlights the volatile nature of election counting in West Bengal, where trust in electronic voting machines is often a point of contention. If a security breach is verified, it could provide a legal basis for the Trinamool Congress to challenge the results in the Bhabanipur constituency, potentially delaying the final certification of the 2026 assembly elections.
