‘Manipulation taking place’: Mamata raises EVM concerns, vows ‘life and death’ fight

NEW DELHI: With conscionable a fewer days near for counting successful the West Bengal Assembly elections, main curate Mamata Banerjee connected Thursday nighttime visited the Bhabanipur beardown country successful Kolkata, raising concerns implicit alleged tampering of physics voting machines (EVMs).Banerjee, who is contesting against Suvendu Adhikari, claimed her enactment had received reports of “manipulation” successful respective parts of the state. “There is simply a beardown country present for EVMs. We recovered that successful galore places, manipulation is taking place… When I saw the CCTV connected TV, I thought I should besides spell and spot it,” she said.She further alleged obstruction by Central forces during her visit. “Initially, the Central Forces wouldn't fto maine enter.

But according to our predetermination rules, the campaigner and predetermination cause of immoderate enactment are allowed up to the sealed room,” she added.

‘Will combat beingness and death’

Accusing the Election Commission of India of bias, Banerjee said, “Our cause has been arrested; determination has been truthful overmuch one-sidedness. Even aft that, if idiosyncratic tries to bargain the EVM machine, if idiosyncratic tries to bargain the counting, past we volition combat beingness and decease together.”At the aforesaid time, she appealed for calm, urging citizens to support bid during the delicate period, portion asserting that “Victory is Certain.”

The Trinamool Congress besides issued a crisp governmental message, stating that “every enactment of wrongdoing” and “heavy-handed tactic” by the BJP and Central forces would beryllium answered done the antiauthoritarian process.Most exit polls person projected a triumph for the Bharatiya Janata Party, perchance ending the TMC’s 15-year rule.Chanakya Strategies estimated the BJP could triumph 150–160 seats successful the 294-member Assembly, portion the TMC whitethorn unafraid 30–40 seats.

Record elector turnout

The elections witnessed historical participation, with West Bengal signaling its highest turnout since independence. As per the Election Commission, Phase II polling stood astatine 91.66%, portion Phase I recorded 93.19%, taking the combined turnout to 92.47%.Female voters led information astatine 92.28%, somewhat up of antheral voters astatine 91.07%, reflecting broad-based engagement contempt governmental tensions during polling, including disputes implicit information deployment.Counting of votes is scheduled for 4th May, with some camps gearing up for a intimately watched result.