EC Says Allegations Of Irregularities In Kolkata Strongroom Have No Merit After TMC Sit-In

Last Updated:April 30, 2026, 21:35 IST

The protest followed TMC Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's appeal to party workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil over strongrooms

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday said there were no discrepancies inside Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in Kolkata, a strongroom where EVMs have been placed.

“We have got the allegations checked and found no merit", an Election Commission source told CNN-News18. 

Earlier in the day, an intense drama unfolded outside Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in Kolkata as Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidates — Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja — staged a sit-in protest, alleging irregular activities inside the EVM strongroom facility.

The protest followed TMC Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s appeal to party workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil over strongrooms housing EVMs.

In a post on ‘X’, the TMC claimed, “This is the murder of democracy in broad daylight. CCTV footage has exposed how @BJP4India, in active collusion with the @ECISVEEP, is opening ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders. This is gross electoral fraud being committed openly with the full knowledge and protection of the Election Commission."

Sharing a purported footage of the incident, the TMC hit out at the BJP, alleging malpractices inside the strongroom.

“They have tried every dirty trick, name deletion, voter intimidation, Central Force terror, cash flooding, and failed miserably. Now, in sheer desperation, they have stooped to tampering with EVMs. But Bengal is not Maharashtra, Delhi, or Bihar. We will not sit silently and watch them loot our democracy", the party wrote in a post on ‘X’.

“Our leaders Smt. @DrShashiPanja and Shri @KunalGhoshAgain have already begun a dharna outside Netaji Indoor Stadium. Smt. @MamataOfficial will personally visit the spot and take stock of the situation. The people of Bengal are watching this daylight robbery", it added.

Kunal Ghosh, a TMC candidate from Belaghata, alleged that none of TMC representatives were allowed to enter the strongroom.

“…You can watch in the livestreaming and CCTV camera of Election Commission that a few people are working inside. None of our representatives is inside…They are not letting us in. They are asking us to speak with other candidates. Why should we take responsibility of other candidates?…" Ghosh said, as quoted by ANI. 

Shashi Panja, a TMC leader who is in the fray from the Shyampukur constituency, said, “…We are concerned. There should be no manipulation. Why are we not being shown all of that?"

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