Tensions escalated in West Bengal’s electoral landscape mere hours before the high-stakes counting of votes from 293 assembly constituencies. Residents in Nilganj Subhashnagar, Madhyamgram assembly segment, North 24 Parganas, stumbled upon a pile of VVPAT slips discarded roadside near Subhash Nagar petrol pump. The revelation, amplified by social media shares from a TMC activist and BJP contender, forced election authorities into damage control mode.
North 24 Parganas’ district election officer moved fast to quell fears. ‘Our checks confirm these are slips from mock polling exercises prior to the election day. They bear no relation to actual votes polled,’ the officer stated firmly. An in-depth inquiry is underway, complemented by a registered formal complaint to facilitate scrutiny and accountability.
Prominent BJP figure Arjun Singh, contesting from Noapara, didn’t mince words on X. He highlighted the slips’ origin from EVM booth 29 in Garulia, found trashed in Subhash Nagar, Dattapukur police jurisdiction, late Sunday. ‘Per ECI rules, VVPAT slips must stay sealed in strong rooms with EVMs. I rushed to the spot, evaluated the breach, spoke to workers, filed an EC complaint, and called for rigorous probe and punishment for culprits,’ Singh asserted.
Monday’s countdown kicks off at 8 AM, with 293 dedicated centers primed for action. Transparency is bolstered by 539 appointed observers, and security is fortified through a triple-layered setup of state, armed, and central forces. No counting agent leaves until tallies are final, a protocol to prevent any tampering whispers.
The episode underscores persistent anxieties over EVM and VVPAT handling in Bengal’s fiercely contested polls. While officials downplay threats to the actual vote, the careless discard raises eyebrows on procedural lapses, fueling opposition narratives ahead of what promises to be a nail-biting result day.
