"Protect the mandate, outsiders seeing them": Mamata stays at counting center for four hours

The political atmosphere in West Bengal remains electric even after the conclusion of assembly voting, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a surprise late-night visit to a 'strong room' in her constituency, Bhabanipur. Amid heavy rainfall, the TMC supremo spent nearly four hours at the Sakhawat Memorial School counting center, citing multiple complaints regarding the security of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Her visit followed serious allegations by TMC leaders concerning potential rigging and suspicious movements around the stored machines. Earlier, Trinamool leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh led the protest and sat on a dharna outside the strong room.

During her inspection, which lasted until after midnight, Banerjee issued a stern warning to authorities, stating that any tampering with the counting process would not be tolerated. She emphasized that protecting the public's vote is paramount and insisted that only authorized personnel should be permitted near the counting zones. The Chief Minister expressed deep concern over reports of "outsiders" suspiciously observing the EVMs, which she claimed had necessitated her personal intervention.

Launching a direct attack on the BJP, Banerjee accused the opposition of attempting to influence the process through intimidation. In a pointed statement, she remarked that while she could easily mobilize thousands of supporters with a single call, she chose to maintain peace for the sake of the state. She alleged that individuals from outside the state were being brought in to monitor the strong rooms, creating an atmosphere of distrust and tension between the TMC and BJP.