New Delhi, May 1 Political sparring intensified over the West Bengal electoral process on Friday, with leaders across parties levelling sharp allegations over Electronic Voting Machines' (EVMs) security, voter verification procedures, and the role of the Election Commission, even as tensions mounted outside strongrooms storing EVMs in Kolkata.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, weighed in on the controversy, drawing a distinction between concerns over EVMs and the ongoing debate around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Speaking to reporters, Omar Abdullah said he does not subscribe to allegations of tampering with EVMs in the pre-poll phase but stressed the responsibility of political parties to safeguard them after polling.
"I have always said that I do not believe in pre-poll rigging of EVMs, but it is our responsibility to safeguard EVMs in the post-poll phase. We used to do the same even when ballot boxes were used," he said, adding that leaders like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were within their rights to station party workers outside strongrooms.
However, Abdullah alleged that the current concern was different. "Today, the theft is not happening through EVMs; unfortunately, it is now being carried out through the Election Commission via SIR. That is why this Bengal election has become such a big challenge for everyone," he said.
Responding to the developments of the day, Union Minister of State (Uttar Pradesh), B.L. Verma, criticised Banerjee, accusing her of undermining democratic institutions. He said established electoral procedures allow for investigations or verifications to proceed even in the absence of candidates.
"When the Election Commission publishes information, the process can begin even if only two candidates are present. There are cameras, and everything can be verified," Verma said, alleging that Banerjee was attempting to influence the poll body’s functioning.
He further claimed that such actions reflected a breakdown of law and order in the state and suggested that the Trinamool Congress government was facing growing public discontent. "This could be her final term as Chief Minister," he added.
From Patna, Union Minister of State, Nityanand Rai, launched a broader attack on the Bengal government, accusing it of fostering violence and lawlessness in the state. He claimed that people in the state had placed their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and were inclined towards political change.
"Violence, hooglism, and incidents like rape became the identity of the TMC government. People have decided to elect a BJP government and contribute to the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' under the leadership of PM Modi," Rai said, also alleging lack of cooperation by the state government in matters of border security.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader, Brinda Karat, criticised both the Trinamool and the BJP, describing the situation in Bengal as detrimental to democratic norms. Referring to the reported ruckus outside a strongroom in Kolkata, she said the state was witnessing a "serious situation for democracy."
Karat accused the Trinamool of suppressing Opposition space during elections, while also alleging that the BJP had manipulated voter lists and deployed central forces in a partisan manner. "Bengal is caught between these two who are using it as a football," she said.
The exchange of allegations underscores the high-stakes political battle in West Bengal, with questions around electoral transparency, institutional neutrality, and voter rights dominating the discourse ahead of the results.
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