Mamata Banerjee Prepares TMC Agents for Vote Counting: What to Expect?
Virtual Meeting Ahead of Vote Counting
In Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with Abhishek Banerjee, the National General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), is set to conduct a virtual meeting with the party's counting agents this Saturday, just two days before the vote counting takes place, as confirmed by a senior party official.
Scheduled for 4 PM, this meeting will include counting agents from all 291 Assembly constituencies where the TMC has fielded candidates.
The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, led by Anit Thapa, is contesting the remaining three seats in the Darjeeling hills.
During the virtual session, the leaders will outline the responsibilities of the counting agents to ensure a smooth counting process on May 4.
A senior TMC member noted that such virtual meetings have been a common practice during the electoral roll revisions, with Abhishek Banerjee previously engaging with booth-level agents from November to February.
However, these interactions ceased following the announcement of the state elections in March.
As the countdown to the election results begins, the TMC leadership is concentrating on enhancing coordination among its agents stationed at the counting centers.
This upcoming virtual meeting is viewed as a crucial step to ensure that counting agents are well-prepared and alert.
The briefing will address essential elements of the counting process, including the number of rounds and the protocols to follow once the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are retrieved from secure locations, according to the senior TMC leader.
Counting agents will also be instructed to be adept with mobile technology, as the Election Commission has implemented QR codes as a security measure during this counting period.
Mamata Banerjee has been actively monitoring the EVM strongroom in her Bhabanipur constituency, raising concerns about potential malpractices, despite assurances from Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal that there is no room for misconduct at the counting centers.
TMC spokesperson and Beleghata candidate Kunal Ghosh stated that TMC workers and candidates are maintaining strict oversight at the counting centers where EVMs are stored, following Mamata Banerjee's directives.
Tensions escalated at two counting centers in Kolkata late Thursday when TMC leaders claimed a lack of transparency and possible malpractice regarding the sealed EVMs from the assembly elections that concluded on April 29.
Mamata Banerjee personally visited the Sakhawat Memorial School counting center, remaining there for approximately four hours. She left the premises after midnight, cautioning against any attempts to manipulate the counting process and demanding increased transparency.
TMC leaders, including Sashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh, staged a sit-in outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting center on Thursday evening, alleging unauthorized activities within the strongroom in the absence of TMC agents.
The situation intensified as numerous supporters from both TMC and BJP gathered outside, chanting slogans until security forces intervened.
On Friday, the Kolkata Police enforced prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS around all seven designated strongrooms in the city.
In a prior video message, Mamata Banerjee urged party leaders, workers, and polling agents to maintain constant vigilance over the EVM strongrooms, alleging that the BJP might attempt to tamper with the machines before counting commences.