Kolkata, 01 May (H.S.): BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has raised questions over the nearly four-hour presence of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee inside the strong room of the counting centre at Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata. However, he also asserted that she could not carry out any “irregular activity.”
In a social media post on Friday, Suvendu Adhikari said he wanted to reassure voters of the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency and across West Bengal that the Trinamool candidate and outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had been prevented from taking any undue advantage.
“She tried, but could not do anything outside the rules. While she was present in the strong room परिसर, my election agent, advocate Suryaneel Das, personally kept a strict watch to ensure that no unfair means were adopted,” he stated.
Notably, on Thursday night, Mamata Banerjee stayed inside the strong room at Sakhawat Memorial School for around four hours. After coming out, she expressed dissatisfaction over the role of the police, saying if the state police fail to perform their duties, it is their responsibility, adding that the police is no longer under her control.
She alleged that postal ballots were being tampered with and demanded installation of CCTV cameras outside the strong room as well. Issuing a warning, she said, “People have cast their votes. If there is any manipulation or attempt to loot votes, we will fight even at the cost of our lives.”
Mamata Banerjee said she rushed to the spot after receiving complaints and stayed there for three to four hours to monitor the situation. She further alleged that videos of EVM tampering had surfaced from multiple locations and that outsiders were interfering with postal ballots.
Meanwhile, the arrival of a Trinamool campaign vehicle outside the school triggered protests by BJP workers, who questioned how it was allowed entry. The situation led to brief tension in the area.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
