The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday alleged irregularities in the handling of postal ballots at a strongroom in Kolkata and said it has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission (EC), escalating political tensions ahead of vote counting.
According to the party, the alleged incident took place at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, where electronic voting machines (EVMs) and postal ballots from several assembly segments are stored. TMC workers claimed that eight trunks containing postal ballots were brought to the facility around 4 am and taken into a room that did not have CCTV surveillance.
Party representatives questioned why the ballot boxes were moved to an unmonitored area, reiterating their demand that all zones handling EVMs and postal ballots must be under constant CCTV coverage. The party has alleged that such actions raise serious concerns about transparency in the electoral process.
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The situation at the strongroom turned tense as TMC workers staged protests outside the facility. The confrontation intensified when Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Purnima Chakraborty arrived at the site with supporters, leading to slogan-shouting from both sides before police intervened to maintain order.
Similar allegations were reported from other locations, including a strongroom in North 24 Parganas, where TMC workers claimed CCTV coverage was disrupted for about 17 minutes. Election officials, however, said the cameras were functioning and attributed the issue to a technical problem involving monitor cables, adding that footage would be shared with concerned parties.
The controversy comes amid heightened political friction in West Bengal, with multiple allegations and counter-allegations between the TMC and BJP over the integrity of the electoral process. While the TMC has sought intervention from the Election Commission, officials have maintained that established protocols are being followed and security arrangements remain intact.
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