Political tensions are soaring in West Bengal as the second phase of the state assembly election concluded on 29th April, and the poll results are awaited on 4th May. A high-voltage political drama unfolded in Bhabanipur on Thursday night (30th April) when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spent hours inside a counting centre strongroom. She alleged attempts at EVM tampering and manipulation by the opposition.
“I have come here because there is a strong room here for EVMs, we found manipulations at many places, so when I saw it on TV, I thought I should visit, I came, but the central forces restricted me, I told them I have a right to go, as per the election rule, candidates are allowed till outside the sealed room. I was then allowed…If there is manipulation, we will fight…” Banerjee said at the strongroom at Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, the counting centre for the Bhabanipur assembly segment.
VIDEO | Outside the strong room at Shekhawat Memorial School in South Kolkata, WB CM Mamata Banerjee says, "I have come here because there is a strong room here for EVMs, we found manipulations at many places, so when I saw it on TV, I thought I should visit, I came, but the… pic.twitter.com/EbDALbY12h
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2026
‘It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter. If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated,” she added. “If someone tries to steal the EVM machine or tamper with the counting, we will fight a life-and-death battle,” Banerjee warned.
Kalyan Banerjee calls Amit Shah “a dirty man”
This comes after TMC MP lost his cool and used expletives against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, amid a charged political atmosphere. A visibly furious Banerjee called Shah a “goonda”, “jallad” and a “dirty man” while addressing the media on 28th April.
#BIG | TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee launches abusive attack on HM Amit Shah amid Bengal poll heat, hinting at BJP’s potential win:
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) May 1, 2026
“Amit Shah is a gunda. Gundami is in his blood. He is filthy. He is a billi (cat). He plotted TMC’s end sitting here for 15 days. Come here, we will hang… pic.twitter.com/bcTsoq2ncw
Banerjee accused the Election Commission of being biased in favour of the BJP. He also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of indulging in illegal activities and threatening leaders of other political parties. “A Home Minister being a Gunda. He is a Gunda, he is a Jallad…His original in Gujarat was Gunda. Gunda means it is in his blood. Amit Shah has done all these illegal activities. He is a dirty man. Completely dirty man,” Banerjee lashed out.
“The governor is against us. The Election Commission is against us. CISF, CRPF, and every central machinery are against us,” he said, alleging that the elections in the state were not free and fair.
