Security forces deployed heavy guards outside strongrooms at Netaji Indoor Stadium and Bhabanipur ahead of the May 4 vote count [1, 2].

The deployment aims to safeguard electronic voting machines and maintain order following reports of electoral malpractices in several districts [1, 3].

In the Bhabanipur assembly constituency, forces were stationed at the Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls' High School [2]. At the same time, Kunal Ghosh, a candidate for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), staged a sit-in protest near the strongroom [2].

These security measures follow a period of electoral volatility. The Election Commission ordered repolling at 15 polling stations [1] due to alleged malpractices. These repolls began on May 2 and recorded a voter turnout of 90% [1, 4]. The affected areas included the Magrahat Paschim, and Diamond Harbour regions within the South 24 Parganas district [1].

Despite the localized tensions and the sit-in by the TMC candidate, some officials have praised the overall administration of the polls. Debashis Sen, the former Chief Electoral Officer, said the election process was peaceful [3]. Sen said the Election Commission earned an A+ rating for its performance [3].

Reports regarding the atmosphere at the counting centers have been mixed. While Sen lauded the process, other reports indicated a ruckus outside the counting center in the constituency of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, where the TMC reported a vehicle with a BJP flag had entered the premises [5].

“Security forces deployed heavy guards outside strongrooms at Netaji Indoor Stadium and Bhabanipur”

The combination of high-security deployments and targeted repolling suggests a high-stakes environment where the Election Commission is attempting to preempt disputes over EVM integrity. While official ratings from former leadership suggest a successful operation, the sit-in protests and reports of friction between the TMC and BJP indicate that the legitimacy of the results may still be contested by political actors as the count begins.