Kolkata, India – Following the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee has issued a direct challenge to the Election Commission (EC), demanding the release of all CCTV footage from counting centres. Banerjee alleges widespread discrepancies and vote irregularities contributing to the TMC's significant defeat.
Speaking to the media today, Banerjee claimed that TMC workers were forcibly removed from counting centres. "I challenge – I give you 100 such CCTV footage from counting centres and let EC release 10 such footage," he stated. He specifically requested footage covering the period from 12 noon to 6 pm on counting day, questioning the integrity of the process.
Allegations of EVM Tampering and Discrepancies
Beyond the CCTV footage, Abhishek Banerjee also raised serious concerns regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He highlighted alleged mismatches between the EVM records documented in Form 17C and the machines presented at the counting tables. "The serial numbers did not match," he claimed, adding to the party's grievances.
Furthermore, Banerjee questioned the battery life of the EVMs, noting that despite being used for approximately 12 hours, a vast majority (90%) still showed 92-95% charge. He described this as an impossible scenario, suggesting potential manipulation. The TMC plans to form a fact-finding committee to investigate these claims internally.
Mamata Banerjee Rejects Mandate, Cites 'Conspiracy'
Abhishek Banerjee's challenge comes on the heels of similar strong statements from TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. Earlier today, she outright rejected the election results, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secure 206 seats in the 294-member Assembly, leading to the TMC's "humiliating defeat."
Mamata Banerjee dismissed the outcome not as a "people's mandate but a conspiracy," firmly ruling out her resignation. "The question of my resignation does not arise, as we were defeated not by a public mandate but by a conspiracy. I did not lose, I will not go to Raj Bhavan," she asserted, emphasizing that votes were "looted."
Accusations Against the Election Commission
The TMC chief went further, alleging large-scale irregularities in the counting process, claiming that nearly 100 seats were "looted" and that the counting was deliberately slowed down. She directly accused the Election Commission of bias.
"We were not fighting the BJP; we were fighting the Election Commission, which was working for the BJP. I have never seen such an election in my entire political career," she declared. "A black chapter in history has been created. The Chief Election Commissioner has become the villain."
Mamata Banerjee also indicated that "raids, transfers, and bias" had skewed the electoral contest and stated that constitutional options remain open for the party to pursue.