The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Trinamool Congress of interfering with voting machines in Falta, an area within the Lok Sabha constituency represented by Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The party alleged that its designated button on the electronic voting machines had been deliberately taped in several polling booths, preventing voters from selecting its symbol.
Denying the allegations, the Trinamool Congress asserted that the claims are baseless and politically motivated, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of raising false alarms in anticipation of electoral defeat. The party also criticised the Election Commission and police observer Ajay Pal Sharma, a senior Indian Police Service officer known as “Singham,” whom it had earlier accused of threatening its candidate Jehangir Khan.
According to sources within the Election Commission, any such complaints, if formally received, would be verified, and if proven true, the affected booths would undergo repolling.
Amit Malviya, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s media in-charge, demanded immediate repolling in all booths where alleged irregularities occurred. In a public statement, he claimed that in several polling stations, the option to vote for his party had been obstructed using adhesive tape, effectively blocking voter choice. He described the alleged practice as the “Diamond Harbour Model,” suggesting it was a systematic method that aided Abhishek Banerjee in securing his Lok Sabha seat.
Malviya also shared video footage purportedly from Harindanga High School in Falta, showing a strip of tape placed on the third button of an electronic voting machine, corresponding to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s lotus symbol. He further alleged that multiple booths had been similarly compromised.
Responding strongly, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Riju Dutta dismissed the accusations and urged Malviya to raise the matter with the appropriate authorities instead of making public statements. He questioned the role of the Election Commission, stating that the issue falls entirely under its jurisdiction. Dutta called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the suspension of police observer Ajay Pal Sharma, alleging administrative failure.
Dutta maintained that the Trinamool Congress has been reporting concerns to the relevant authorities wherever necessary and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of exaggerating the issue due to its declining electoral prospects. He stated that the opposition party is “crying wolf” after deploying its full resources in the state.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused central security forces of acting in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She also criticised the deployment of external observers, alleging that their presence was intended to intimidate voters and influence the polling process.
The allegations and counter-allegations have intensified tensions in an already high-stakes electoral battle, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the voting process and placing the Election Commission under increased scrutiny as the polls continue.
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