Trinamool Congress supremo and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, 24 May renewed her allegations that the West Bengal Assembly elections were rigged, claiming the Election Commission of India (ECI) actively assisted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in securing victory in the state. She also alleged she was defeated 'by force' in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, three weeks after the poll results were declared.

Banerjee's Allegations Against the Election Commission

Addressing supporters on the day the Falta Assembly by-election results were declared, Banerjee alleged that the electoral process had been reduced to a 'farce.' She claimed that around 60 lakh voter names were deliberately omitted from electoral rolls, of which 32 lakh were restored after the party's intervention, but 27 lakh names remained excluded. She further alleged that the BJP subsequently submitted 7 lakh additional names, leaving approximately 34 lakh voters unable to cast their ballots.

Banerjee also alleged that 'data hacking' took place from the central election office and that BJP workers entered counting halls wearing CRPF uniforms — claims she said the party intends to pursue legally. 'We have specific information that data hacking took place from the Central Election Commission office,' she said. 'Reports are reaching us one after another.'

Challenge to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari

Directly addressing Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Banerjee demanded a forensic examination of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the Bhabanipur constituency. 'How did you win in Bhabanipur? I will tell you that in court. If you have the courage, get a forensic report. We want the EVM report,' she said.

She also took aim at Adhikari's record, saying: 'From Saradha to Narada, his name is in every scam. Those who are giving orders today are out of order.' She alleged that Adhikari had threatened to jail 2,500 Trinamool workers and that a separate jail had been constructed for party members.

Crackdown on TMC Workers, Alleged Post-Poll Violence

Banerjee alleged that since the BJP assumed power, a systematic crackdown on Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers had been underway. She claimed that more than 2,500 party offices had been occupied, elected councillors were being arrested daily, and that around 12 people had died in what she described as 'state terrorism.' She further alleged that workers were being coerced into signing resignation letters and that civic bodies including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation were being prevented from functioning.

'Counting was done on May 4. Today is the 24th. I have endured these 20 days silently,' she said. 'Many have become victims of state terrorism. People are being forced to commit suicide. Elected bodies are not being allowed to function.'

What Happens Next

Banerjee indicated the party intends to pursue its allegations in court, including the demand for EVM forensic analysis in Bhabanipur. The renewed offensive comes as the TMC attempts to consolidate its opposition narrative following the poll defeat. Whether the courts admit the petitions — and whether the ECI responds to the specific data-hacking allegations — will determine how far the controversy extends beyond political rhetoric.