Bengal polls phase 2: TMC candidates allege NIA deployed to 'scare' voters, flag EVM glitch
Synopsis
On phase 2 polling day in West Bengal, TMC candidates went on the offensive — alleging the Centre deployed the NIA to intimidate voters and flagging an EVM malfunction where an elderly woman's vote reportedly registered on the wrong button. The claims, unverified by the ECI, add fresh controversy to an already high-stakes Bengal election.
Key Takeaways
Saokat Molla , TMC candidate from Bhangar , alleged NIA officials were brought in by the Centre to intimidate voters and TMC workers on 29 April polling day.
Molla blamed the BJP for the NIA's presence, while clarifying the agency itself was not at fault.
Madan Mitra , TMC candidate from Kamarhati , alleged an EVM malfunction at booth number 197 , where a voter's ballot reportedly registered on an unintended button.
Mitra alleged TMC leaders' and workers' homes were searched the night before polling, calling it undemocratic.
West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said polling was proceeding normally; TMC leaders predicted Mamata Banerjee would win 250+ seats and serve a fourth term as Chief Minister.
Amid the second phase of polling in West Bengal on Wednesday, 29 April, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate alleged that National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials were being brought into the state by the Centre to intimidate voters and party workers, while another TMC candidate flagged an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunction at a booth in his constituency.
NIA Deployment Allegation
Saokat Molla, TMC candidate from the Bhangar Assembly constituency, raised the alarm over the NIA's presence on polling day. "No one was aware of the NIA's arrival, but they are coming. We don't blame anyone, but I want to draw the attention of the Election Commission to why the NIA team is coming on election day?" Molla said, according to IANS.
"They are coming to scare the public and Trinamool workers. I would request the NIA team to withdraw and let the people peacefully cast their votes," he added. Notably, Molla was careful to clarify that the NIA itself was not at fault, instead attributing the decision to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The NIA and the Centre had not issued any immediate response to the allegations at the time of reporting.
EVM Malfunction Claim at Booth 197
Madan Mitra, TMC candidate from the Kamarhati constituency, alleged that an EVM malfunctioned at booth number 197. He described the incident: "An elderly lady was repeatedly pressing the third button, but her vote was not getting cast. When she pressed some other number, then, there was a sound, meaning that the vote got registered," Mitra told IANS.
Mitra said the election observer was called but merely said "sorry", which he interpreted as an admission of a faulty machine. He further alleged that if EVMs were malfunctioning elsewhere as well, "the election is being rigged." The Election Commission of India (ECI) had not publicly responded to the specific allegation at the time of filing this report.
Pre-Poll Night Searches and Voter Facilities
Mitra also alleged that on the night before polling, the homes of TMC leaders and workers were searched, calling such actions detrimental to democracy. He additionally flagged the absence of seating arrangements for voters, who were reportedly forced to stand in long queues. Despite the stormy weather conditions, Mitra expressed satisfaction that voters were still turning out in significant numbers.
TMC Leaders Express Confidence
West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, after casting her vote, maintained that polling was proceeding normally. "Voters will come in large numbers because the people of Bengal know how to express their rights," she said.
TMC leader Kakali Sen asserted confidence in the party's victory, saying, "This land of Bengal is of Mamata Didis." Vijay Upadhyay, party candidate from the Jorasanko constituency, predicted that Mamata Banerjee would win more than 250 seats and become Chief Minister for a fourth term. Former TMC MP and actor Nusrat Jahan urged voters who had not yet cast their ballots to exercise their democratic right.
With voting underway across multiple constituencies, the allegations of NIA deployment and EVM irregularities are likely to fuel further political debate as results are awaited.
Point of View
But they cannot be dismissed without scrutiny. The ECI's silence on the specific booth-197 malfunction claim is notable; a prompt technical audit would either validate or refute Mitra's account. More broadly, the deployment of central agencies like the NIA on polling day in a state where Centre-state tensions run high is a legitimate question of electoral propriety, regardless of which party raises it. Bengal's elections have historically been flashpoints for allegations from all sides, but the pattern of complaints — pre-poll searches, central agency presence, EVM glitches — points to an environment where voter confidence itself is under stress.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did TMC's Saokat Molla allege about the NIA during Bengal phase 2 polling?
Saokat Molla, TMC candidate from Bhangar, alleged that NIA officials were brought into West Bengal by the Centre on polling day, 29 April, to intimidate voters and TMC workers. He called on the Election Commission to intervene and asked the NIA team to withdraw.
What EVM malfunction was reported during West Bengal phase 2 polling?
TMC candidate Madan Mitra alleged that at booth number 197 in the Kamarhati constituency, an elderly woman's vote registered on a different button than the one she pressed. He called the election observer, who reportedly only said 'sorry', which Mitra interpreted as confirmation of a faulty machine.
Did the Election Commission of India respond to the EVM and NIA allegations?
As of the time of reporting, the Election Commission of India had not publicly responded to the specific allegations raised by TMC candidates regarding the EVM malfunction at booth 197 or the NIA's presence on polling day.
Who did TMC's Saokat Molla blame for the NIA's presence in West Bengal?
Molla specifically blamed the BJP for the NIA's deployment, while stating that the NIA itself was not at fault. He framed the move as a politically motivated attempt to suppress voters and TMC workers.
What did TMC leaders predict about the West Bengal election outcome?
TMC candidate Vijay Upadhyay predicted Mamata Banerjee would win more than 250 seats and become Chief Minister for a fourth consecutive term. TMC leader Kakali Sen also expressed strong confidence in the party's victory.
