Just before the vote count (May 4, 2026) in Kolkata, West Bengal, a fierce political battle has erupted between the TMC and the BJP over the opening of the EVM strong room. The TMC has alleged unauthorized people were seen outside the strong room and alleged tampering with ballot boxes, while the Election Commission has categorically rejected these allegations, calling it a routine process of sorting postal ballots.
TMC leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh staged a protest outside the strong room at Kolkata’s Khudiram Anushilan Kendra late Thursday night. They alleged that BJP and Election Commission officials entered the strong room, located at the Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhawanipur, without informing the candidates. Taking a tough stand on EVM security, she said that she will not allow “EVMs to be looted” and will fight a “do-or-die battle” in this matter. Election Commission’s stand: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal clarified that the main EVM strong room is completely sealed and secure. He said that the activity seen was the segregation of postal ballots, which was taking place in another room. Political parties were informed about this. Security arrangements: After the uproar, large iron railings have been installed outside the Khudiram Anusheelan Kendra. Teams from the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and Kolkata Police are guarding the strong room 24 hours a day. Impact on seats: Amid allegations and counter-allegations, Kolkata Police has imposed Section 163 (similar to Section 144) within a 200-metre radius of all 7 counting centres to prevent crowding or any disturbance. Conclusion: TMC has called it a ‘murder of democracy’, while BJP has termed it as TMC’s fear of defeat. Election Commission has said that the process has been conducted as per rules and EVMs are 100% safe till now.