Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders staged sit-in protests outside electronic voting machine strong-rooms in Kolkata on Thursday to prevent alleged electoral tampering [1, 3].
The escalation comes just days before the official counting process begins, reflecting deep distrust between the ruling party and election officials. With high stakes surrounding the state's leadership, any perceived irregularity could trigger widespread civil unrest.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) visited the Bhabanipur strong-room and spent four hours at the counting centre [4, 5]. The visit occurred on April 30, 2026, which was two days before the counting day scheduled for May 4, 2026 [1, 2].
"We will not allow any tampering with the EVMs; it is a matter of life and death," Banerjee said [3].
To ensure the integrity of the vote, the TMC placed counting centres on high alert and intensified the monitoring of EVMs [1, 3]. The party instructed its candidates to provide hourly updates to leadership. These measures follow a period of intense legal and political friction, including a Supreme Court order for a repoll in 15 seats [5].
The Election Commission of India denied the allegations. An Election Commission spokesperson said there is no evidence of any irregularity in the EVMs [4].
Opposition leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the protests. An unnamed BJP leader said these allegations are baseless and aimed at intimidating voters [5].
The tension arrives amid conflicting projections. While the TMC maintains a posture of vigilance to safeguard its lead, exit-poll data shows five out of seven pollsters forecasting a win for the BJP [6].
“"We will not allow any tampering with the EVMs; it is a matter of life and death."”
The TMC's aggressive monitoring and public protests suggest a strategy to preemptively challenge the results if the exit polls prove accurate. By framing the count as a 'matter of life and death' and focusing on EVM integrity, the party is establishing a narrative of electoral fraud that could be used to contest the legitimacy of the May 4 outcome, especially given the previous Supreme Court-ordered repolls in 15 seats.
