High drama in Bengal as Trinamool stages sit-in outside EVM centre in Bengal: 'Ballot papers being moved'
Trinamool Congress leaders staged a sit-in protest in Kolkata outside a key EVM storage center, alleging unauthorized handling of ballot papers, which the Election Commission denied, stating all procedures were followed. The protest came a day after the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections concluded, amid heightened tensions between TMC and BJP. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal dismissed the claims as baseless, asserting that EVMs and strongrooms remained secure under multi-layered surveillance.
- ▪TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja led a sit-in protest at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in Kolkata over alleged irregularities in EVM handling.
- ▪The Election Commission stated that officials were legally segregating postal ballots and that strongrooms remained secure with three layers of security.
- ▪TMC alleged they were not informed about the reopening of a strongroom, while EC officials confirmed they had been invited as per protocol.
- ▪BJP candidates Tapas Roy and Santosh Pathak confronted police at the site, questioning the allowance of TMC's protest at a sensitive location.
- ▪Mamata Banerjee claimed TMC would win 226 of 294 seats and accused BJP of manipulating exit poll narratives to influence public perception.
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High drama in Bengal as Trinamool stages sit-in outside EVM centre in Bengal: 'Ballot papers being moved'The row erupted a day after polling for the second and final phase of the assembly polls concluded.Published on: May 01, 2026 6:32 AM ISTBy HT CorrespondentsShare viaCopy link A massive political row erupted in West Bengal on Thursday as Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders staged a sit-in protest outside central Kolkata’s Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, the counting centre for several assembly constituencies housing EVM strongrooms, alleging irregular activities inside the facility, even as chief minister Mamata Banerjee said her party will win at least 226 of the state’s 294 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) countered it saying “her game has ended”.TMC leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal…
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