'Money, muscle and weapons': Mamata Banerjee on night vigil as TMC, BJP face-off reaches strongrooms

KOLKATA: Bengal’s battle for ballots progressed into a war of nerves over EVM safety late on Thursday as CM Mamata Banerjee camped at Sakhawat Memorial High School, where EVMs from her constituency, Bhowanipore, are being stored.

A few kilometres away, an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation broke out between Trinamool and BJP workers at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, the designated strongroom for EVMs from seven Kolkata North assembly segments. Late at night, BJP workers tried to sit on a dharna outside Sakhawat Memorial school but were forcibly removed by security personnel.



The CM finally left the centre after nearly four hours, saying she had asked a representative to continue the vigil. Central forces and police have thrown a security ring around both centres.

Earlier in the day, the CM had urged her party candidates to maintain a round-theclock vigil at EVM storing centres till May 4 across all 294 Bengal constituencies.

In a hurriedly called press meet, CEO Manoj Agarwal dismissed the charges. “There is nothing suspicious. The strongroom is ringed by three-tier security. No one can enter except for authorized officers,” he said.

The fresh standoff was triggered after Trinamool released CCTV footage claiming unknown people were tampering with ballots at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.

The party’s Shyampukur and Beleghata candidates, Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh, sat on a dharna outside the strongroom gates alleging that unauthorised individuals had been allowed entry into what should have been asealed facility.

Kolkata North district election officer (DEO) Smita Pandey rushed to the spot and assured the two Trinamool seniors that all strongrooms with EVMs were safe and sealed. The two men and two women seen on the CCTV footage were EC-authorised representatives segregating postal ballots, she said, adding that party representatives had been informed via email about the postal-ballot segregation. Pandey also promised the two candidates that additional CCTVs would be installed and the images beamed outside.

But the furore was far from over. As Trinamool workers started gathering at the spot, BJP candidates Tapas Ray and Santosh Pathak also reached there. “If they gather here, we will also stand vigil,” he said. A full-scale confrontation broke out between workers of the two parties, prompting CAPF to step in and separate them. DEO Pandey and senior EC officials made the rival candidates sit together and explained to them the steps being taken.

Keep round-the-clock watch on strongrooms, Didi tells candidates

Earlier posting a video on her social media pages, Banerjee said she was prepared to personally lead a night vigil if required making it clear that there was no room for complacency. “Keep workers during the day and stay yourselves at night. If needed, I will stand guard in my own area. If I can do it, so can you,” she told party candidates, stressing discipline and continuous monitoring. “Do not be negligent. Until I formally address the press, no one should leave the counting table,” she warned party workers, cautioning that discrepancies could even arise during data uploading.

She instructed candidates to ensure a constant presence at counting centres, adding that even temporary absences must be covered by “absolutely trustworthy” representatives who cannot be influenced.

Trinamool also asked its candidates to collect Form 17C, which is used during counting to verify votes secured by candidates against the total accepted votes. While opposition parties have demanded that such data be made public within 48 hours, the EC has so far resisted these calls. Trinamool, in response, has begun independently collecting and digitising Form 17C records.

Explaining the process, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra said the form is filled only after polling concludes and the EVM is sealed, ensuring all votes cast—including those of voters who remain in queue past the official closing time—are accounted for before finalisation.

Banerjee, meanwhile, sharpened her political attack, alleging that BJP had deployed organisational machinery from 19 states, backed by “money power, muscle power, and weapons,” in an attempt to influence the election. “Despite this combined pressure, the people of Bengal have delivered their verdict,” she said.

Projecting confidence amid a charged political climate, Banerjee dismissed speculation driven by exit polls and urged patience. “No matter how much propaganda is spread, the real answer will come by the evening of the 4th. Wait and watch,” she said.
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