The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday rejected allegations made by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) regarding the tampering of postal ballot boxes in West Bengal. BJP leader Tapas Roy dismissed the accusations as rumors, asserting that the TMC was preparing the ground for its defeat in the assembly elections.
BJP leader responds to allegations
Roy arrived at the Netaji Indoor Stadium as TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja staged a protest over the alleged tampering. Speaking to reporters, Roy said, "We will deploy two persons to look after the strong room. They (TMC) are just spreading rumors as they are preparing ground for their defeat. Three-layer security arrangements are here." He further questioned the TMC's actions, stating, "They cannot do this. They cannot assemble in front of the strong room. No sit-in demonstration or slogan shouting should happen in front of a strong room. This is wrong. Why did the Kolkata Police allow it?"
TMC leaders counter BJP claims
TMC leader Shashi Panja accused BJP leaders of creating a ruckus, claiming the protest had been peaceful before their arrival. "We were sitting on the dharna peacefully. BJP leaders created a ruckus here," she said. Kunal Ghosh also leveled allegations against the BJP, questioning why he and others were denied entry while Roy was allowed inside. "We were removed, but Tapas da went inside. What do you call this? That is like their own party office. These agent central police with the BJP people... it is not in the hands of the Kolkata police; even the Kolkata police personnel are now all appointed by the Election Commission," Ghosh said.
TMC accuses BJP of electoral fraud
The TMC escalated the matter by accusing the BJP of "murder of democracy in broad daylight." In a post on X, the party shared a video and described the alleged opening of ballot boxes as gross electoral fraud. "ALARMING This is the murder of democracy in broad daylight. CCTV footage has exposed how @BJP4India, in active collusion with the @ECISVEEP, is opening ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders. This is gross electoral fraud being committed openly with the full knowledge and protection of the Election Commission," the party said.
Background and context
The development comes a day after the second and final phase of polling in West Bengal, which recorded a voter turnout of 92.67 percent. Votes are scheduled to be counted on May 4. The TMC further accused the BJP of trying "every dirty trick" to defeat it in the assembly polls, including name deletion, voter intimidation, and tampering with EVMs. "They have tried every dirty trick, name deletion, voter intimidation, Central Force terror, cash flooding, and failed miserably. Now, in sheer desperation, they have stooped to tampering with EVMs. But Bengal is not Maharashtra, Delhi, or Bihar. We will not sit silently and watch them loot our democracy," the party said.
