Prohibitory Orders Issued
Following a night of significant political activity and allegations, the Kolkata Police took swift action to maintain order. A ban on all public gatherings
was enforced across seven crucial areas surrounding vote counting centers. These locations, vital for the integrity of the election process, include Sahid Kshudiram Bose Road, Judge's Court Road, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour Road, Lord Sinha Hall, Naresh Mitra Sarani (also known as Beltala Road), and Pramathesh Barua Sarani. This decisive step aimed to prevent any further escalation of tensions and ensure a secure environment for the tabulation of votes, responding directly to the concerns raised.
Trinamool's Allegations Addressed
The catalyst for the heightened security and police intervention was a series of accusations brought forth by the Trinamool Congress. The party alleged suspicious activities concerning the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) stored at counting centers. This led to a confrontation outside a center at Netaji Indoor Stadium, where workers from both the Trinamool and the BJP engaged in slogan shouting, resulting in a brief but tense standoff. Even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made her presence felt, appearing near the strongroom at the Shakhawat Memorial counting center, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the party's deep concerns about the electoral process.
Election Officials' Clarifications
The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, played a pivotal role in de-escalating the situation by addressing and dismissing the Trinamool's claims. He provided a detailed account of the procedures followed for sealing and securing the strongrooms at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, which house EVMs for seven North Kolkata assembly constituencies. Agarwal emphasized that all strongrooms were properly sealed in the presence of candidates, election agents, and observers after polling concluded. He also explained the process of sorting postal ballots, clarifying that the use of torchlight for this task, due to power restrictions, was misinterpreted as suspicious activity by the ruling party leaders.
Resolution and Transparency
Following the comprehensive explanations provided by the Chief Electoral Officer, the Trinamool leaders eventually withdrew their protest and departed from the venue. Agarwal assured that the separation of postal ballots was conducted transparently, with all political parties, including representatives from both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, being duly informed and given access to observe the proceedings. The returning officers had previously communicated the schedule and process via email. This clarification helped restore confidence in the security and integrity of the EVMs and the postal ballot sorting process, bringing an end to the immediate unrest.
