'EVMs were hacked, agents assaulted' says Mamata Banerjee
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee accuses the Election Commission of EVM hacking and assaulting party agents during the West Bengal assembly elections.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday, alleging massive irregularities during the West Bengal assembly elections. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the TMC leader claimed that EVMs were hacked and party agents were physically assaulted to influence the electoral outcome.
Serious Allegations of Electoral Malpractice
Banerjee, who was accompanied by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, painted a grim picture of the polling and counting processes. She alleged that the TMC was leading by 53,000 votes before the process was compromised. According to her, the party faced significant hurdles on the ground.
“We were leading by 53,000 votes. We were beaten up, and the CRPF blocked the gate so we couldn't enter. They assaulted our agents and drove them all away,” Banerjee stated. She further claimed that the CCTV cameras were intentionally blocked to hide these actions, demanding that the footage from every constituency be preserved for scrutiny.
Attack on the Election Commission
The TMC leader did not mince words when targeting the Election Commission. She referred to the Chief Election Commissioner as "Vanish Kumar," accusing him of working to deprive citizens of their fundamental voting rights. She expressed deep frustration over the lack of justice, noting that even after approaching the courts and visiting the Election Commission's office with victims, the party was treated with "great disrespect."
Key allegations raised by the TMC chief include:
- EVM Tampering: Claims that Electronic Voting Machines were hacked to alter results.
- Counting Interference: Allegations that control over the counting process was seized after the second or third rounds.
- Security Misuse: Claims that large central forces were deployed to influence the election rather than ensure neutrality.
- CCTV Tampering: Allegations that surveillance footage was locked or blocked to prevent transparency.
The SIR Process and Electoral Rolls
Banerjee also raised concerns regarding the SIR process in West Bengal, suggesting it has been designed to benefit the BJP. She alleged that this process has negatively impacted eligible voters, affecting their presence on the electoral rolls. She further questioned the authority of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), claiming they have been stripped of their power.
The TMC chief also linked the current concerns to a previous incident in June, where a fire at a government building in Kolkata's Alipore area resulted in the destruction of EVMs. While a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the Kolkata Police to probe the fire, Banerjee remains skeptical of the overall integrity of the election machinery.
A Warning of Political Storms
Concluding her address, Mamata Banerjee described the current state of democracy as a "scandalous joke" and a "mockery." She issued a stern warning to the ruling authorities, stating that a "storm is coming" and that the people of India would eventually provide a fitting reply to these perceived injustices.
This press conference follows a meeting of the INDIA bloc, which has recently intensified its demands for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from his position as Chief Election Commissioner.