Kolkata witnessed a busy Sunday as political party workers, especially counting agents, made last-minute preparations ahead of the vote counting across Bengal. For the Trinamool Congress, a comprehensive checklist was in place. Workers in Rashbehari and Bhowanipore constituencies attended meetings after 6 pm.
TMC's Detailed Instructions for Counting Agents
A counting agent for the ruling party stated, 'We have been asked to carry clothes and stay at a banquet near Deshapriya Park. If we stay together, we cannot be harassed by central forces or the police. We will report to the counting centre by 5 am.'
The Trinamool Congress instructed all its workers to report with Form 18 (appointment letter), ECI ID card, voter ID, Aadhaar card, Form 17C (booth voting details), a torch for possible load-shedding, a calculator, a pen, and a printed sheet provided by the party for calculating votes polled.
Debabrata Roy, a TMC worker, said, 'We have been asked to challenge when we find the lead is below 1,000 despite multiple rounds.' Bhowanipore is likely to begin counting with Ward 63, with Ward 77 scheduled in the last three of the 20 rounds. Rashbehari is expected to have 18 rounds of counting, sources said.
Workers Express Concerns Amid Post-Poll Violence
One TMC worker from north Kolkata said, 'We are focusing on our final-day plans and what we need to do inside counting centres because BJP is trying to create trouble to tamper with election results. We are discussing how vigilance must continue until victory announcement.'
Avirup Chakraborty, a TMC worker from Entally, said, 'We are winning, no doubt, but this time it is muted because they have spread fear among people. However, people have made a silent revolution by voting against BJP.'
Manisankar Mandal, another TMC worker from Mograhat, added, 'People and our workers have chosen to remain silent until results are out because they have seen how much torture BJP can inflict. We will form the government for the fourth time.'
BJP's Preparations for Counting Day
The BJP also spent a busy Sunday training its workers. BJP state committee member Anupam Ghosh, responsible for party management in three Assembly constituencies of Sagar, Kakdwip, and Patharpratima, said all preparations were taken for the big day. 'We have been assembling all polling agents and providing last-minute training. We advised them not to fall prey to any provocation,' he said.
However, BJP workers said they were keeping quiet after witnessing post-poll violence. One BJP worker said, 'People of Bengal want change this time and have voted for BJP. We are preparing for celebrations on Monday.'
Tamoghno Ghosh, a BJP senior north Kolkata functionary, said, 'Our party workers are ready for celebrations, but they are silent due to fear of TMC hooligans.'
