EVM tampering row rocks Kolkata as TMC stages late-night protest

A late-night political storm erupted in Kolkata on the night of April 30, as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged EVM tampering and staged a protest outside a counting-related facility, while election officials firmly rejected the charges and cited full compliance with Election Commission of India (ECI) procedures.

TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja, along with party workers, staged a dharna at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra near Netaji Indoor Stadium, alleging irregularities in the handling of EVMs and claiming CCTV footage showed ballot boxes being opened without the presence of authorised representatives of political parties. BJP candidates also rushed to the spot following the allegations.

Hours after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged party workers to closely guard EVM strong rooms, she personally reached Sakhawat Memorial Girls High School—designated as a strong room for Bhabanipur constituency — at 8:15 pm and stayed there until midnight. The area witnessed heavy police deployment as workers from both TMC and BJP gathered outside.

Banerjee said she visited to ensure transparency and prevent any alleged manipulation. “I was here for four hours. I was here to keep a vigil. Our EVMs are here. At the Netaji Indoor Stadium, we have seen EVMs being opened, so I came to check. Initially, they stopped us, but later the RO allowed me to enter,” she said, adding that she would ensure “votes are not captured forcibly in a democratic setup.”

She further stated, “This is our area. I could have brought thousands here, I did not.”

The EVMs remain sealed in strong rooms, with counting scheduled for May 4, when they will be moved to counting centres.

In a post on X, the TMC accused the BJP of colluding with the Election Commission, calling it “the murder of democracy in broad daylight.” The party also alleged CCTV evidence of ballot boxes being opened without authorised representatives present.

However, election officials strongly rejected the claims.

Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal said, “Nothing has been done outside the statutory procedure of the ECI. The allegation is baseless. Even after that, we are seeking a report. If anyone breaches the legal procedure, stern action will be taken.”

North Kolkata District Election Officer Smita Pandey clarified that all EVMs were securely sealed and under CCTV surveillance. She said the activity at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra involved segregation of postal ballots in a designated area and had been duly informed to all political parties.

“All EVMs are perfectly sealed and in the strong room. What happened was segregation of postal ballots by AEROs in the corridor, and all parties were informed in advance from 4 pm,” she said, adding that the entire process was shown to protesting candidates and was fully recorded as per SOPs.

Amid the controversy, the Election Commission also introduced a QR-based ID system to tighten security at counting centres.

In a press note, the EC said a three-tier verification system has been introduced, with QR code scanning at the innermost security layer to prevent unauthorized entry. The system will apply to Returning Officers, counting staff, candidates, election agents, and counting agents, among others.