West Bengal Election Result: Turmoil In Kolkata As Mamata Banerjee, TMC Leaders Stage Sit-in Outside Strong Room

Kolkata: Political tension has escalated following the conclusion of voting in the West Bengal Assembly elections and the release of exit poll results. Just ahead of the official election results, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched vigorous protests. Senior TMC leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh have staged a sit-in protest outside the Netaji Indoor Stadium, right in front of the strong room.

What has the TMC claimed?

Levelling serious allegations against the BJP and the Election Commission, both leaders have claimed that attempts are being made to open ballot boxes in the absence of party representatives. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee herself has also arrived outside a strong room. Reports indicate that Mamata Banerjee has reached the premises of the Sakhawat Memorial School. High-voltage drama is currently unfolding at the location.

Specifically, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee arrived at the 'strong room' in Bhabanipur and alleged tampering with EVMs and electoral rigging. Banerjee reached the Sakhawat Memorial School in South Kolkata—which serves as the counting center for the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency—where a 'strong room' has been designated to house the EVMs used in the voting held on April 29. Undeterred by the torrential rain lashing the city, Banerjee arrived at the strong room site in the evening and, at the time of the latest reports, remained inside the premises. Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate for the Kolkata Port seat, Firhad Hakim, also arrived at the scene; however, he was unable to meet the Chief Minister as she had already entered the strong room accompanied by her election agent.

While waiting for Banerjee outside the school premises, Firhad Hakim stated, "I arrived here upon receiving information that the Chief Minister was coming, but I could not meet her as she was already inside the complex, exercising her rights as a candidate to inspect the strong room. I was not granted permission to enter. Therefore, I cannot confirm exactly what is transpiring inside."

Kunal Ghosh remarked, "You can observe via the Election Commission's live streaming and CCTV footage that there are individuals working inside, yet not a single representative from our party is present within the strong room." "We are not being allowed to enter, and we are being asked to speak to other candidates. Why should we take responsibility for other candidates?" Meanwhile, expressing her concern, Shashi Panja stated, "We are extremely worried. There must be no manipulation. Why are we not being shown all of this?"

TMC leaders allege that there is a complete violation of transparency within the strong room, and that attempts are being made to cast suspicion on the vote-counting process. The situation outside the Netaji Indoor Stadium remains tense due to the sit-in protest staged by TMC leaders. However, the Election Commission has not yet issued any official response regarding this matter. Security has currently been beefed up at the site.

Why Did Mamata Banerjee Attack Exit Poll Predictions?

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that false exit poll predictions are being circulated at the behest of the BJP in an attempt to demoralize TMC workers. She expressed confidence that her party would secure a two-thirds majority in this election by winning over 226 seats in the 294-seat Legislative Assembly. In a video message posted on 'X' just before the vote counting on May 4, Mamata Banerjee stated that certain TV channels are broadcasting electoral predictions that were disseminated directly from the BJP office.

She alleged that the content currently being aired on TV was originally transmitted from the BJP office at 1:08 PM. She further claimed that money was paid to ensure its broadcast, adding, "I have concrete information regarding this." Asserting her party's landslide victory, the TMC chief declared, "We will cross the 226-seat mark. We might even surpass 230 seats. I have full faith in the massive public mandate."

During this address, she also launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that central security forces were acting as agents of the BJP during the polling process. Mamata Banerjee asserted that, acting under the direct instructions of Amit Shah, central forces are functioning as BJP agents across the entire state of West Bengal.