Ahead of the May 4 counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering and swapping. The timing of these claims, coming after the completion of polling and just days before results, has triggered a wider political debate on whether the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is attempting to pre-emptively shape the narrative in anticipation of an unfavourable outcome.
For a leader known for her aggressive street politics and speeches, Mamata Banerjee’s recent appearance in a nearly nine-minute video message stood out. With folded hands throughout, she urged party workers to remain vigilant and guard EVM strongrooms across the state. This unusually restrained appeal was followed by a late-night visit to a strongroom in Kolkata, where she alleged suspicious activities and potential tampering.
The optics of the Chief Minister standing in the rain outside a strongroom, raising alarms over electoral integrity, have been projected by her party as a symbol of vigilance. However, this is less about safeguarding democracy and more about building a defensive narrative ahead of the results.
The Bhabanipur strongroom episode
The controversy intensified when Mamata Banerjee personally visited the EVM strongroom at Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School in South Kolkata, which serves as the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency. Arriving around 8:15 pm amid heavy rainfall, she remained at the premises for nearly four hours.
During her visit, Mamata alleged that she had observed suspicious movements on CCTV footage aired on television. She pointed to alleged irregularities at multiple locations, including the Netaji Indoor Stadium and Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, where TMC leaders claimed that EVMs or ballot units were being handled in the absence of party representatives.
Emerging from the strongroom premises past midnight, Mamata issued a warning, stating that any attempt to tamper with the counting process would be met with a “life and death” struggle.
While these allegations created immediate political ripples, the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer dismissed them, reiterating that all protocols were being followed and that EVMs were secure under multi-layered safeguards.
EVM Security: Facts versus political claims
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has consistently maintained that EVMs are among the most secure voting systems globally. The machines are standalone devices not connected to any network, eliminating the possibility of remote hacking.
Furthermore, they are protected through a multi-tier security mechanism that includes sealing procedures, CCTV surveillance, and round-the-clock monitoring by security personnel and party representatives.
After polling, EVMs are stored in strongrooms under strict supervision, with candidates or their agents allowed to monitor the premises continuously. Any movement or access to the machines requires the presence of authorised representatives from multiple political parties.
Given these safeguards, election authorities have repeatedly stated that tampering or swapping of EVMs during storage is virtually impossible. This raises critical questions about the basis of the allegations being made by the TMC leadership at this stage.
A stark contrast: TMC’s earlier stand on EVMs
What makes Mamata Banerjee’s current stance particularly striking is the contrast with her party’s previous position on EVMs. Historically, the TMC has not been at the forefront of the anti-EVM narrative in Indian politics.
While occasional complaints about malfunctioning machines were raised during past elections, these were largely confined to isolated incidents during polling. The party never launched a sustained campaign questioning the fundamental credibility of EVMs.
In fact, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee had publicly dismissed sweeping allegations against EVMs as “random statements” as recently as December 2025. He had challenged critics to demonstrate how EVMs could be hacked and argued that electoral manipulation, if any, occurred at the level of voter lists rather than through machines.
This position often put the TMC at odds with allies in the opposition bloc, particularly the Congress leadership, which has consistently questioned EVM reliability after electoral setbacks.
The sudden reversal now, with Mamata Banerjee herself leading the charge on EVM tampering, has therefore raised eyebrows across political and analytical circles.
Exit poll pressure and political calculations
One of the key factors behind this shift appears to be the exit poll projections that have suggested a strong performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal. Although exit polls are not always accurate, they play a significant role in shaping public perception and political momentum.
Mamata Banerjee has dismissed these projections as attempts to demoralise her party. However, by raising concerns over EVM tampering immediately after polling concluded, the TMC seems to be laying the groundwork to question the legitimacy of any adverse result.
This strategy serves multiple purposes. It prepares the party’s cadre and supporters for a potential defeat by attributing it to alleged manipulation rather than electoral rejection. It also creates a basis for legal challenges or political protests in the aftermath of the results.
In essence, the EVM narrative allows the TMC to remain politically combative regardless of the outcome.
Mobilising cadre through fear and vigilance
Another significant aspect of this development is its impact on the party’s organisational machinery. By framing the election as a battle against an alleged “BJP-EC nexus,” Mamata Banerjee is attempting to galvanise her cadre at a crucial moment.
Her dramatic visit to the strongroom and repeated calls for vigilance serve to energise party workers, reinforcing the idea that they are guardians of the people’s mandate. This mobilisation is particularly important in a high-stakes election where the margin of victory or defeat could be narrow.
However, such rhetoric also risks creating unnecessary panic and mistrust among voters, undermining confidence in democratic institutions.
Pressure on institutions and narrative control
The timing of the allegations also puts pressure on the Election Commission and security agencies. By raising questions about the integrity of the process, the TMC is effectively demanding increased transparency and access to strongrooms.
Even if no irregularities are found, the narrative of “constant vigilance” allows the party to claim moral high ground. It also provides a framework to challenge the results or delay acceptance, depending on the outcome.
BJP’s counterattack: “A pre-planned excuse”
The BJP has responded sharply to Mamata Banerjee’s allegations, calling them a “pre-planned excuse” to justify a potential loss. Leaders from the party have accused the TMC of attempting to deflect attention from anti-incumbency and governance issues.
They argue that after more than a decade in power, the TMC is facing significant voter fatigue and that the EVM narrative is being used to mask declining support.
According to BJP leaders, the sudden shift in stance on EVMs exposes the TMC’s lack of confidence and highlights its attempt to control the post-election narrative.
Beyond the immediate political implications, the controversy raises larger questions about the impact of such allegations on democratic credibility. Repeated claims of electoral manipulation, especially without concrete evidence, can erode public trust in institutions.
India’s electoral system has long been considered robust and transparent. While scrutiny and accountability are essential, unsubstantiated allegations risk undermining confidence in the very foundations of democracy.
At the same time, political parties have the right to raise concerns and demand transparency. The challenge lies in balancing vigilance with responsibility, ensuring that the electoral process remains both credible and respected.
Strategy, nervousness or both?
As West Bengal awaits the results on May 4, Mamata Banerjee’s EVM allegations have added a new layer of complexity to an already intense political contest. Whether this move is driven by genuine concerns, strategic calculation, or political nervousness remains open to interpretation.
What is clear, however, is that the narrative battle has already begun, even before a single vote has been counted.
If the results favour the TMC, the vigilance campaign may be projected as a successful defence of democracy. If not, the groundwork has been laid to challenge the outcome and sustain political momentum.
In either scenario, the episode shows how modern elections are fought not just at the ballot box, but also in the realm of perception, narrative, and public trust.
