Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged widespread electronic voting machine (EVM) rigging and vote-looting following the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decisive victory in the Falta assembly constituency repoll. BJP candidate Debangshu Pande secured a landslide win by a margin of over one lakh votes, prompting Banerjee to question the integrity of the electoral process.
Allegations of Irregularities
Banerjee claimed that Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers were systematically removed from counting centers and denied access after 11 am on the day of counting. She asserted that BJP workers and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were allowed to enter freely, creating an uneven playing field. The TMC supremo accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP and alleged that data was hacked during the counting process.
Electoral Roll Manipulation
Banerjee also criticized the Special Intensive Revision exercise conducted ahead of the repoll, claiming that lakhs of voters were arbitrarily removed from the electoral rolls. She described the situation as a form of 'state terrorism' and vowed to continue a legal battle against the alleged malpractices.
Call for Unity
The former chief minister questioned whether constitutional democracy or political force would ultimately prevail in the country. She also indicated that the opposition INDIA bloc might convene a meeting in June to discuss the electoral irregularities and chart a collective response. Banerjee's remarks come amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal, where the TMC and BJP have been locked in a fierce rivalry.
Banerjee's allegations have reignited debates over the reliability of EVMs and the neutrality of the Election Commission. The BJP has dismissed her claims as baseless, asserting that the victory reflects the people's mandate. The Election Commission has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations.
