Security arrangements at strong rooms have been strengthened with a key procedural shift. Election Commission officials will now remain stationed outside strong rooms кругл the clock. A designated officer, nominated by the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer, will oversee monitoring duties. Earlier, this responsibility was handled primarily by police personnel or officers assigned by them.
Entry into the strong room will now require prior approval from the authorised official. Authorities have also decided to increase the deployment of central forces within the existing three-tier security cordon to reinforce protection.
Section 163 imposed; restrictions around strong rooms
As part of the enhanced measures, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been enforced in strong room areas. In Kolkata, the order is already in place outside seven strong rooms. The restrictions will remain effective from April 30 to May 4.
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Under this provision, gatherings are prohibited within a 200-metre radius of the strong rooms. The move is aimed at maintaining order and preventing any disturbance near counting centres.
Political tensions surface over security concerns
On Thursday night, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spent nearly four hours inside the strong room at the counting centre of Shakhaowat Memorial School. She raised concerns about the security arrangements, stating that if the state police fail to perform their duties, it is their responsibility, and added that the police are no longer under her control. She further alleged, “Postal ballots are being tampered with.”
Separately, tensions were reported at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, where two Trinamool candidates and their agents staged a sit-in outside the gate on Thursday evening, citing “suspicious activity” inside the strong room. Following reports of the protest, BJP candidates Tapas Roy and Santosh Pathak also reached the location later that night.
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Election officials respond to postal ballot concerns
On Friday morning, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal visited two counting centres in Purulia district. Addressing reporters, he said that Postal ballots have been exchanged as per the rules. Political parties were informed following due procedure, he added further.
Meanwhile, several Trinamool candidates from Purulia attempted to meet the Chief Electoral Officer to raise concerns related to postal ballots. They were unable to secure a meeting, prompting dissatisfaction from Shantiram Mahato, the Balrampur candidate and district chairman of the party.
