West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spent several hours inside an EVM strongroom in Kolkata late last night after her party raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the handling of Electronic Voting Machines. The incident triggered a political controversy, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleging possible procedural lapses and the opposition dismissing the claims. According to sources, the issue began when TMC leaders questioned certain activities around the strongroom where EVMs have been stored ahead of vote counting. The party alleged that transparency protocols were not being fully followed and demanded immediate clarification from election authorities.

Mamata Banerjee personally visited the strongroom and stayed there for nearly four hours. During her visit, she inspected security arrangements, interacted with officials, and expressed concern over the safeguarding of EVMs. She also called for stricter monitoring, including enhanced surveillance measures, to ensure complete transparency in the counting process. The Election Commission, however, rejected the allegations of tampering, stating that all EVM strongrooms are secured with multi-layer protection, CCTV surveillance, and round-the-clock security by central forces. Officials maintained that standard procedures were being followed and denied any irregularity.

The controversy quickly turned into a political clash, with the TMC accusing authorities of negligence, while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called the allegations baseless and politically motivated. BJP leaders argued that routine administrative movements inside secure facilities were being misrepresented to create confusion ahead of counting. TMC workers also staged protests outside the strongroom, demanding greater transparency in the handling of EVMs. The situation remained tense through the night, with increased security deployment at key counting centres across Kolkata.

Political analysts say the incident reflects the continuing mistrust between political parties and election authorities over EVM security, a recurring issue during closely contested elections in several states. As counting day approaches, the focus now shifts to the Election Commission’s procedures and the final outcome, which is expected to significantly influence the political landscape in West Bengal.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.