West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, May 4, 2026, accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of serious irregularities during the ongoing vote counting for the state's Assembly elections. In a video message shared on social media, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo urged party candidates and counting agents to remain vigilant inside counting centres, alleging a deliberate attempt to manipulate results.
Allegations of Selective Reporting and Vote Manipulation
Banerjee claimed that vote counting trends were being selectively presented to unfairly favor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She highlighted that leads from several constituencies where the TMC was ahead were not being reported. The Chief Minister specifically pointed to instances where counting had reportedly stopped after only two or three rounds in approximately 100 locations. Furthermore, she alleged that seven machines found in Kalyani showed no match in their counts, suggesting discrepancies.
“Since yesterday, I have been saying that they will show their results first and ours later in the first two or three rounds,” Banerjee stated in her message. She further accused central forces of being forcefully used to oppress the Trinamool Congress, including breaking into and forcibly occupying party offices. She asserted that the Election Commission was operating according to its own will, in conjunction with these central forces, with state police reportedly submitting to their authority.
Call for Vigilance Amidst Early Trends
Amid early setbacks indicated by initial trends, Banerjee sought to reassure her party workers, emphasizing that only a fraction of the total counting rounds had been completed. “Even if three or four rounds have been counted, there are 14-18 rounds in total. You will win then. Wait and watch. We are with you. Don't be afraid. We will fight like the cubs of a tiger,” she told her cadres.
The high-stakes election for 294 seats has seen a direct contest between the incumbent TMC and the BJP. Early reports from the Election Commission of India suggested a strong performance by the BJP, leading in over 193 seats, while the TMC, aiming for a fourth consecutive term, trailed with leads in around 97 constituencies.
Widespread Concerns Among TMC Leaders
Concerns about the counting process were echoed by other TMC leaders. Several flagged what they termed “fishy” trends and procedural lapses. Shreya Pande, the TMC candidate from Maniktala, despite trailing, expressed confidence in a turnaround and accused officials of non-cooperation. Senior leader Shashi Panja reported that authorized counting agents faced delays in entry due to confusion at various centres. Similar complaints regarding mismanagement and delays were raised by Kakdwip candidate Manturam Pakhira.
Counting is ongoing across 293 constituencies at 77 centres under tight security, with the final outcome determining the next government in West Bengal.