West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised serious allegations of deliberate power cuts and CCTV shutdowns near EVM strong rooms just hours before the scheduled vote counting. She claimed suspicious movements around the secured facilities and urged party workers to remain vigilant and guard the strong rooms through the night.
Allegations Against BJP
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo directly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating these disruptions. Her allegations come on the heels of earlier complaints about EVM-related irregularities during the polling process. With counting day approaching, concerns over electoral transparency have once again come into sharp focus.
Earlier Complaints and Tensions
Banerjee's statements add to a growing list of grievances from the TMC regarding the conduct of the elections. The party has previously flagged issues with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in several constituencies. The latest allegations of load-shedding and CCTV blackouts near strong rooms have heightened political tensions in the state.
Call for Vigilance
In her appeal, Banerjee instructed TMC workers to stay alert and ensure the security of the strong rooms. She emphasized that any attempt to tamper with the voting machines would be met with resistance. The Chief Minister's remarks underscore the charged atmosphere ahead of the counting of votes for 823 seats across five battleground states, with Bengal being a key showdown.
EC Assurance and Opposition Response
The Election Commission has assured a free and fair counting process, even as both the TMC and BJP trade accusations. Meanwhile, other political figures have weighed in, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleging a grave violation of election protocols, and Abhishek Banerjee challenging BJP leaders to contest from Falta amid a repoll row. The situation remains tense as all eyes turn to the counting day verdict.
