Kolkata: Tension gripped parts of Kolkata ahead of vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections, prompting the city police to impose prohibitory orders in several areas following protests and allegations of irregularities at counting centres.
According to reports, Kolkata Police banned large gatherings in seven key locations, including Sahid Kshudiram Bose Road, Judge’s Court Road, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour Road, Lord Sinha Hall, Naresh Mitra Sarani and Pramathesh Barua Sarani, after a late-night standoff between workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The unrest followed allegations by TMC leaders of suspicious activities inside strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were stored. Party leaders, including Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja, staged protests outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting centre, claiming that CCTV footage showed unauthorised individuals handling ballot-related materials. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also visited a counting centre in Bhabanipur, raising concerns over possible tampering.
However, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal rejected the allegations, asserting that there was no scope for malpractice. He said the strong rooms had been sealed in the presence of candidates and observers after polling and were under continuous CCTV surveillance. He clarified that officials were only engaged in the segregation of postal ballots as per established procedures.
Agarwal further explained that the sorting of postal ballots was carried out in designated areas outside the strong rooms and that all materials remained secure. He noted that the process was conducted under supervision and that representatives of political parties had been informed and allowed to observe.
Following the clarification from election authorities, the protesting TMC leaders withdrew their agitation. Despite this, security remained tightened across counting centres as authorities sought to prevent any further escalation.
The developments come as counting of votes is set to determine the outcome of a closely watched electoral contest in the state, with heightened political sensitivities surrounding the process.
