Mamata Banerjee's late-night strongroom visit, EVM claims: What unfolded in Bengal?

A tense political situation unfolded in West Bengal late Thursday night, just a day after polling for the final phase concluded. The developments centred around allegations of EVM tampering, counterclaims, and heightened security near counting centres ahead of the May 4 results.

Mamata Banerjee visits strongroom

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spent nearly four hours at a counting centre strongroom located at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur. She arrived late at night, entered the premises as a candidate, and stayed until around 12.07 am.

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Explaining her visit, she said, "I have come here because there is a strong room here for EVMs, we found manipulations at many places, so when I saw it on TV, I thought I should visit, I came, but the central forces restricted me, I told I have a right to go, as per election rule, candidates are allowed till outside the sealed room. I was then allowed... If there is manipulation, we will fight..."

She further stated, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People's votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."

Raising concerns over the counting process, Banerjee added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."

Sit-in and allegations outside EVM centres

Earlier in the day, tensions had already been building. TMC leaders staged a sit-in outside Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, where EVM strongrooms for multiple constituencies are located.

Leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja claimed CCTV footage showed outsiders inside the premises "fiddling with ballot papers". The clip was later shared on social media.

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Banerjee had also urged party workers to remain vigilant. "They plan to swap EVMs… they might change data in computers, giving our numbers to BJP and BJP's to us," she said, calling for round-the-clock monitoring.

Ghosh questioned the reopening of the strongroom, stating, "Party workers and supporters were present outside the strongroom till 3.30 pm. Suddenly, an email was sent informing that the strongroom would be opened again at 4 pm… Now we are not being allowed to enter. BJP is being invited," he alleged, adding, "Ballot papers are being moved inside."

BJP responds

The BJP responded sharply to the allegations. Suvendu Adhikari, contesting against Banerjee in Bhabanipur, said, "I wish to assure the esteemed community of voters that the Trinamool Congress candidate has been strictly instructed to refrain from availing any undue advantages. As long as she was present in the strong room premises, my election agent was personally there keeping her under strict surveillance so that she could not resort to any dishonest means."

State BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya also reacted, saying, "She is very well aware that she is losing the polls… Her game has ended. People have passed their judgement. The TMC government is gone."

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Security tightened, EC responds

As tensions escalated, police deployed personnel in anti-riot gear near the centres. The situation intensified when BJP leaders reached the site and objected to the presence of TMC supporters at what they described as a sensitive location.

The Election Commission (EC), however, dismissed the allegations. It clarified that all EVM strongrooms were sealed in the presence of candidates and observers after polling and remained secure. Officials said the activity seen in the footage was part of authorised segregation of postal ballots in a separate strongroom, and all parties had been informed beforehand.

The developments come amid multiple complaints during the election process, with the commission reportedly receiving over 2,000 grievances. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.