TMC Challenges EC’s Counting Norms in Supreme Court Amid Strongroom Controversy and Security Clamp in West Bengal

Agencies, May 2, 2026, Kolkata: The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has moved the Supreme Court of India against a directive issued by the Election Commission of India (EC) concerning the supervision of vote counting scheduled for May 4 in West Bengal, intensifying the political developments ahead of the crucial day.

The dispute originates from the EC’s mandate that at least one official at every counting table—specifically the counting supervisor—must be from the Central Government or a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). Challenging this restriction, the party led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the apex court to allow state government employees to also be नियुक्तed (appointed) as counting supervisors, emphasizing the need for inclusive administrative representation.

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had dismissed TMC’s plea against the EC’s order, effectively upholding the Commission’s directive. The matter is now slated for hearing in a special sitting of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground has remained tense. The Kolkata Police imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Suraksha (BNSS), 2023, in at least seven areas housing EVM strongrooms. This order enforces a ban on any form of gathering in these sensitive zones until it is lifted, in the interest of maintaining public order and preventing escalation.

The political standoff between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and TMC intensified following allegations made by TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja. They claimed that ballot boxes inside an EVM strongroom at the Netaji Indoor Stadium had already been opened. Ghosh stated that party workers had been stationed outside the strongroom until around 3:30 PM, after which an email allegedly informed that the strongroom would be reopened at 4 PM. When party representatives rushed back, they claimed they were denied entry while BJP members were being allowed inside.

Amid these escalating allegations, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reiterated her warning that the BJP might resort to “dirty tactics” and urged party workers across the state to guard EVM strongrooms vigilantly until counting day. She also personally visited an EVM strongroom at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur. However, her visit, along with the presence of a large TMC-linked vehicle, triggered protests from BJP workers, who attempted to block the vehicle and objected to her access to the strongroom.

The confrontation eventually subsided after the enforcement of Section 163. Addressing the controversy, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal categorically rejected the allegations of ballot box tampering as “baseless.” He stressed that strongrooms are under continuous surveillance and are secured with strict protocols, including the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces, leaving no scope for unauthorized access or manipulation. He further asserted that any allegation must be backed by credible evidence and reason.

With legal proceedings underway and heightened security measures in place, West Bengal now moves closer to the decisive counting day, with all eyes on ensuring transparency, accountability, and the smooth conduct of the democratic process.