TMC-BJP confrontation erupts over alleged EVM tampering at Kolkata counting centre

KOLKATA: Central Kolkata's Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, the designated counting centre for seven north and east Kolkata assembly constituencies, witnessed a confrontation between Trinamool Congress and BJP late Thursday after CM Mamata Banerjee's party alleged tampering of EVMs by "unknown people" purportedly caught on CCTV entering the strongrooms there. CEO Manoj Agarwal dismissed allegations of EVMs and postal ballots being tampered with. "There is nothing suspicious about it. The strongroom is ringed by three-tier security. No one can enter except for authorised officers," he told reporters. TMC candidates Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh staged a roadside protest there while CM Mamata camped at Sakhawat Memorial High School, the strongroom for the Bhowanipore seat that she is contesting against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari. CAPF and Kolkata Police personnel ringed both strongrooms amid sloganeering by TMC and BJP workers eyeballing each other. Mamata urged her party's candidates across all 294 constituencies to maintain a round-the-clock vigil at EVM strongrooms until May 4, saying there would be attempts to tamper with EVMs. The stand-off escalated after TMC released CCTV footage of what it claimed was an intrusion into Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. Ghosh alleged manipulation of postal ballots. Kolkata North district election officer Smita Pandey reached the counting centre with senior Kolkata Police officers and spoke to Ghosh and Panja, reassuring them that nothing untoward had occurred there. Parties told in advance about postal ballot segregation: Official Kolkata North district election officer Smita Pandey told Ghosh and Panja that representatives of the contesting parties had been informed beforehand that segregation of postal ballots would take place at 4pm. Every candidate or their representative was sent an email, she said. The people seen in the CCTV footage — two men and as many women — were EC authorised representatives segregating the postal ballots, Pandey said. She also told them that all strongrooms containing polled EVMs were sealed and adequately secured. The officer promised the candidates that additional CCTVs would be installed. Ghosh later said, "We questioned Election Commission officials over ballot boxes being opened in the absence of stakeholders. They assured us that it won't be repeated." The arrival of BJP candidates Tapas Ray and Santosh Pathak soon after led to a fresh confrontation. "Trinamool is spreading rumours. If they gather here, we will also stand vigil," Ray said. BJP and Trinamool workers clashed outside the centre, prompting CAPF and police to step in, physically remove them, and set up a barricade. DEO Pandey and senior officers then made the rival candidates sit together and explained that all necessary steps would be taken. She insisted that they ask their supporters to disperse. In Bhowanipore, Mamata's presence at the counting centre prompted BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari's representative, Suryaneel Das, to shout at police officials, questioning why a candidate was present inside for so long. He alleged it was unconstitutional. Earlier, posting a video on her social media pages, Mamata said she was prepared to keep vigil through the night if required. "If I can do it, so can you," she told party candidates. "Don't be negligent. Until I formally address the press, no one should leave the counting table." TMC also asked its candidates to collect Form 17C, used during counting to verify votes secured by candidates against the total accepted votes. While opposition parties have demanded that such data be made public within 48 hours, the EC is still to consider it.