Suvendu Adhikari: Mamata's EVM fears reflect 'fear of defeat'
Synopsis
West Bengal's most high-profile constituency just got more charged. Suvendu Adhikari has dismissed Mamata Banerjee's late-night strongroom visit and EVM tampering allegations as theatrical habit — but with both rivals contesting Bhabanipur, every accusation carries outsized political weight ahead of counting day.
Key Takeaways
Suvendu Adhikari called Mamata Banerjee 's EVM concerns "imaginary" and a reflection of her "fear of defeat" on 1 May .
Banerjee visited the Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School strongroom in South Kolkata past midnight on Thursday , alleging EVM tampering.
Adhikari said Banerjee has raised EVM manipulation concerns habitually for 15 years since coming to power in 2011 .
The Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal rejected the tampering allegations at a press conference on Thursday night .
Both Banerjee and Adhikari are contesting from Bhabanipur , making it the most high-profile constituency this election cycle.
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, on Friday, 1 May dismissed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's concerns over alleged EVM strongroom security breaches as "imaginary", saying they reflect her "fear of defeat" ahead of the high-stakes Bhabanipur Assembly constituency result.
Adhikari's Charge Against Mamata
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said Banerjee has a well-established pattern of raising EVM manipulation concerns whenever she senses an adverse electoral pulse. "Raising apprehensions about EVM manipulation has become a part of her habit for the last 15 years since she came to power in West Bengal in 2011. It is impossible for her to get rid of this old habit," Adhikari told media persons on Friday.
He added that the intensity of her concerns this time was notably higher. "This time, her habitual expression on this count is stronger since she is sensing an imminent defeat. Hence her theatrics over the imaginary EVM strongroom manipulation are reflections of her fear of defeat," he said.
Mamata's Late-Night Strongroom Visit
The BJP leader's remarks came in direct response to Banerjee's actions on Thursday night, when she stormed the Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School in South Kolkata — the venue designated as the strongroom for Bhabanipur Assembly constituency EVMs — and stayed there past midnight, alleging EVM tampering. She had earlier issued a video message on Thursday expressing similar apprehensions.
The Bhabanipur constituency is the most high-profile seat this election cycle, with Banerjee and Adhikari pitted directly against each other — raising the political stakes of every allegation made by either side.
Election Commission's Response
In a hurriedly convened press conference on Thursday night, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal also rubbished the allegations of tampering of EVMs and postal ballots in the strongrooms. The Election Commission of India (ECI), according to Adhikari, had already strictly instructed the outgoing Chief Minister to refrain from availing any undue advantages of the office she currently holds.
"No matter how much effort she makes, she has been unable to engage in any activities outside the rules," Adhikari said, adding that his election agent, Advocate Suryanil Das, was personally present at the strongroom premises to keep watch. "As long as she was present in the strong-room premises, my election agent, Advocate Suryanil Das, was personally there keeping her under strict surveillance so that she could not resort to any dishonest means," he said.
What Happens Next
With both the Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition contesting from Bhabanipur, the constituency's result is expected to be one of the most closely watched outcomes in West Bengal. The escalating war of words over EVM integrity is likely to intensify in the coming days as vote counting approaches.
Point of View
The very seat where she faces Adhikari directly, suggests this is as much about optics and mobilising her base as it is about EVM security. The Election Commission's swift rebuttal and Adhikari's counter-surveillance claim both signal that this dispute is being fought on a political battlefield, not an administrative one. The deeper question mainstream coverage is missing: if EVMs are structurally tamper-proof as the ECI repeatedly asserts, why does the allegation cycle persist across parties and elections — and what does that say about institutional trust in Indian democracy?
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mamata Banerjee allege about EVMs in Bhabanipur?
Mamata Banerjee alleged EVM tampering at the strongroom housed in Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School in South Kolkata, which stores EVMs for the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency. She visited the venue late Thursday night and stayed past midnight raising these concerns.
What was Suvendu Adhikari's response to Mamata's EVM allegations?
Suvendu Adhikari dismissed the allegations as 'imaginary' and said they reflect Banerjee's 'fear of defeat'. He argued that raising EVM manipulation concerns has been her habit for 15 years whenever she senses a negative electoral pulse.
Did the Election Commission respond to the EVM tampering allegations?
Yes. The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal held a press conference on Thursday night and rejected the allegations of EVM and postal ballot tampering in the strongrooms. The Election Commission of India had also reportedly instructed Banerjee against misusing her office.
Why is the Bhabanipur constituency significant in this election?
Bhabanipur is the most high-profile constituency this cycle because both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari are contesting directly against each other, making every development there politically charged.
Who is Suvendu Adhikari?
Suvendu Adhikari is the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency.
