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This came a day after CM Mamata Banerjee visited the Bhabanipur strongroom, alleging that the BJP and the Election Commission had tampered with EVMs together.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at the Bhabanipur strongroom on Thursday. (PTI)
The Kolkata Police have banned all gatherings in at least seven areas where vote counting is due to begin after the high-voltage assembly election, after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged vote tampering, blaming the Election Commission.
The police have issued prohibitory orders in Shahid Khudiram Bose Road, Judge’s Court Road, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour Road, Lord Sinha Hall, Naresh Mitra Sarani (Beltala Road) and Pramathesh Barua Sarani, as per reports.
Earlier, Mamata Banerjee visited the Bhabanipur strongroom in Kolkata and spent nearly four hours there, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission had tampered with EVMs together. She further warned that any kind of EVM irregularities, like tampering with voting machines or the counting process, would be met with a “life-and-death” fight.
ALSO READ: Mamata Alleges EVM Manipulation, Warns Of ‘Life-And-Death’ Fight, BJP Calls It ‘Theatrics’
She visited the strongroom after a viral video showed suspicious movement inside Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in central Kolkata, where EVMs from all seven North Kolkata Assembly seats are kept. Meanwhile, the BJP slammed Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Bhabanipur’s strongroom and her “theatrics this evening are perhaps the clearest exit poll for West Bengal”.
The political controversy began ahead of the May 4 voting results after the TMC circulated a video alleging major lapses in the handling of election materials.
Election Commission Denies Vote Tampering Allegations
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has rejected the allegations, maintaining that all procedures were followed and strongrooms remain secure. It said all seven strongrooms at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra were sealed after polling in the presence of candidates, their agents, and the General Observer.
ALSO READ: Modi Or Mamata, Who Did Bengal Vote For? What Exit Polls, US Betting Boards & Gulaal Sales Hint At
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal also dismissed the TMC’s claims, saying, “After the polling ended on Wednesday, all the strong-rooms were properly closed and sealed in the presence of the concerned candidates/election agents and observers. The last strong room was closed at 5.15 am on Thursday.”
West Bengal Leader of Opposition(LoP) Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that strict monitoring is being maintained at the strong room in Bhabanipur. Adhikari also claimed that Trinamool Congress candidate and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been “kept under surveillance” to prevent any irregular activity.
ALSO READ: ‘Under Strict Surveillance’: Suvendu Claims CM Mamata Being Monitored Ahead Of Poll Results
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