Kolkata EVM Row Ends in Anti-Climax; No Evidence Found After Mamata’s Vigil

Kolkata: A late-night political flashpoint over alleged EVM tampering in Kolkata subsided without proof, as election authorities dismissed the claims and termed the episode a case of “miscommunication.”

The controversy erupted after leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress flagged suspicious activity inside a strongroom facility where voting machines from several North Kolkata constituencies were stored. A viral video intensified the allegation, prompting senior leaders to rush to the site and stage protests.

Tensions Spike After Viral Video

The footage, circulated widely on social media, showed movement inside the strongroom premises, triggering allegations of possible manipulation. Party leaders, including Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja, led protests near the venue as supporters gathered in large numbers, escalating tensions.

The situation soon turned into a political face-off, with the Bharatiya Janata Party questioning the presence of crowds near sensitive election infrastructure.

Mamata Leads Parallel Vigil

Amid the standoff, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stationed herself at another strongroom in south Kolkata, maintaining a vigil for several hours. She said her visit was aimed at ensuring transparency and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.

Her move added to the political intensity, with party workers mobilised across locations amid fears of irregularities ahead of counting day.

Authorities Issue Clarification

The standoff began to ease after a late-night briefing by State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal.

Officials clarified that the activity seen in the viral clip was linked to routine postal ballot processing and not to EVM handling. They stressed that strongrooms storing EVMs remained sealed, under CCTV surveillance, and could not be accessed without proper authorisation.

They also explained that the use of torchlights inside the premises was standard practice, as electricity is restricted in sealed strongroom areas.

‘Miscommunication’, Not Tampering

Election authorities maintained that all procedures were conducted as per established guidelines and that candidates had been informed in advance about ballot handling protocols. The entire episode, they said, stemmed from a misunderstanding rather than any breach of electoral norms.

Protest Winds Down

Following the clarification, protests gradually lost momentum. Mamata Banerjee left the strongroom after midnight, and demonstrations across the city eased without further escalation.

Despite the absence of evidence, she urged party workers to remain vigilant around strongrooms until counting day.

In the end, what unfolded as a high-voltage political confrontation ended without substantiating the allegations—turning a tense night into a procedural clarification rather than an electoral controversy.