Strong Room Row: Mamata Banerjee Declares—"We Will Not Allow Anyone to Loot EVMs"; Election Commission Responds to Allegations

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee emerged late Thursday night from the strong room located at the Shekhawat Memorial School in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning against any attempt to tamper with the vote-counting process. She alleged potential irregularities in the counting of votes. Subsequently, Mamata Banerjee stated, “If there is any attempt to loot the EVMs or manipulate the vote count, we will fight with our lives on the line. If any foul play occurs, we will fight back.”

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said, “I have come here because this location houses a strong room for the EVMs. We have detected irregularities in several places; therefore, when I saw this on TV, I felt I needed to come here personally. I arrived, but the central forces initially stopped me. I asserted that I have the right to enter, as per election rules, candidates are permitted to proceed up to the area just outside the sealed strong room. Only then was I allowed to proceed.”

Mamata Banerjee Issues Warning to Election Commission

Speaking to the media outside the Bhabanipur strong room, Mamata Banerjee leveled several serious allegations. She stated, “Our agents were harassed. Our party workers were physically assaulted and subjected to mistreatment.” Issuing a warning to the Election Commission, she remarked, “These individuals have come all the way from Gujarat to conduct the vote counting; this is our territory. We can mobilize a crowd of 10,000 people here at a single signal.”

What Did the EC Say Regarding the Allegations of Irregularities?

Amidst the controversy surrounding EVMs and ballot papers that erupted prior to the vote counting in West Bengal, Election Commission officials categorically dismissed the allegations leveled by the TMC—specifically, the claim that “ballot boxes were being opened in the absence of agents from the concerned political parties.” The officials clarified that the main strong rooms remain completely secure and sealed, while the segregation of ballot papers is being conducted within the corridor of the strong room complex.

Election Commission Responds to Viral Video

Citing a video circulating on social media, Election Commission officials stated that the strong rooms for the seven Assembly constituencies located within the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra were duly locked and sealed yesterday—after the conclusion of polling—in the presence of candidates/election agents and the General Observer. The final strong room was locked at approximately 5:15 AM this morning.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said, “No CCTV cameras were switched off. CCTV footage from all eight strong rooms located there (seven for EVMs and one for postal ballots) is being continuously broadcast. Representatives of political parties can observe this footage while seated beyond the three-tier security cordon. They noticed some activity around 4 PM, when our staff members were opening the postal ballot room in accordance with the rules.”

Election Commission Clarifies the Truth Behind the Video

He added, “As per the rules, all political parties and candidates were duly informed by the Returning Officer (RO). They were expected to be present at the venue. After 4 PM, three candidates arrived and observed that the EVM strong rooms remained sealed, whereas the strong room for postal ballots was open. Subsequently, the three of them departed.”

He further stated, “There will be no issues regarding law and order. Such incidents do occur from time to time. The law and order situation remains stable. The vote counting process will be conducted in a completely orderly manner, just as the elections themselves were conducted.” Agarwal emphasized that the election body has nothing to conceal and will not allow any form of irregularity to mar the electoral processes.