TMC-BJP clash at Kolkata counting centre; Mamata keeps vigil at strong room
Synopsis
Hours after polling ended in West Bengal, TMC and BJP workers clashed outside Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium counting centre over alleged 'suspicious movements' in a strong room. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee personally stood vigil for over two hours at her own constituency's strong room and ordered candidates statewide to maintain overnight watch — signalling deep distrust ahead of counting day.
Key Takeaways
TMC and BJP workers clashed outside the counting centre at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata on 1 May over alleged strong room irregularities.
TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja alleged "suspicious movements" inside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra postal ballot strong room.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee kept vigil for over two to three hours at the Shakhawat Memorial strong room housing EVMs from her Bhabanipur constituency.
The Election Commission denied all allegations, stating candidates were informed of postal ballot procedures via email in advance.
All strong rooms were sealed in the presence of candidates and observers; the final seal was placed at 5:15 am on Thursday .
After ECI assurances, both TMC and BJP called off their protests; Banerjee directed all TMC candidates to maintain overnight vigil at strong rooms statewide.
Workers of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed outside the counting centre at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday, 1 May, after TMC leaders alleged "suspicious movements" inside a strong room housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The confrontation unfolded hours after polling concluded on Wednesday, with both sides raising slogans before police intervened.
What Triggered the Confrontation
TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh (Beleghata) and Shashi Panja (Shyampukur) staged a protest outside the counting centre gate, alleging irregularities linked to the strong room at the adjacent Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. BJP candidates Santosh Pathak (Chowrangee) and Tapas Roy (Maniktala) arrived at the venue shortly after and objected to the TMC gathering, leading to a brief but tense confrontation between workers of both parties.
Ghosh explained the sequence of events:
Point of View
But the TMC's demand for live CCTV feeds and candidate-monitored screens sets a precedent that, if granted piecemeal, could become a flashpoint at future counts. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is that this pattern of post-poll strong room protests has recurred across West Bengal cycles, and the absence of a standardised national protocol for candidate access to postal ballot rooms is the structural gap that keeps enabling it.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did TMC and BJP workers clash outside Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata?
Workers clashed on 1 May after TMC leaders alleged 'suspicious movements' inside the strong room at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, which houses postal ballots. BJP candidates objected to the TMC gathering outside the counting centre, leading to a brief confrontation before police intervened.
Why did Mamata Banerjee personally stand vigil at a strong room?
Mamata Banerjee visited the Shakhawat Memorial counting centre, where EVMs from her own Bhabanipur Assembly constituency are stored, and remained for over two to three hours in her capacity as a candidate. She subsequently directed all TMC candidates across West Bengal to maintain overnight vigil at strong rooms.
What did the Election Commission say about the TMC's allegations?
The Election Commission denied the allegations of irregularities, stating that candidates had been informed in advance about postal ballot procedures through email. It confirmed all strong rooms were sealed in the presence of candidates, agents, and observers, with the final seal placed at 5:15 am on Thursday.
What demands did TMC's Kunal Ghosh place before the Election Commission?
Ghosh demanded installation of CCTV cameras at the postal ballot strong room, live display of footage outside, permission for candidate representatives to monitor the screens, and no obstruction from police personnel. The Election Commission provided assurances, after which the TMC withdrew its protest.
Which constituencies' EVMs are stored at Netaji Indoor Stadium?
According to the Election Commission, the strong room at Netaji Indoor Stadium houses EVMs from seven Assembly constituencies in north Kolkata. A separate strong room for postal ballots has been set up at the adjacent Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.
