TMC files EC complaint over postal ballot sorting at Kolkata counting centre
Synopsis
Trinamool Congress has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission alleging that postal ballot covers were sorted at Kolkata's Khudiram Anushilan Kendra strongroom without candidates or their agents present — and says CCTV footage proves it. With Mamata Banerjee personally inspecting another strongroom and candidates staging a dharna, the episode signals a charged atmosphere ahead of counting day.
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress filed a complaint with the ECI on 2 May 2026 against the RO of Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting centre in Kolkata .
The party alleged postal ballots were sorted on 30 April 2026 without candidates, election agents, or party representatives present, in violation of Paras 11.21.6 and 11.21.7 of the ECI Handbook.
TMC cited Rule 27(3) of CE Rules and Sections 128(1) and 134 of the RPA as provisions allegedly breached.
Candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja staged a dharna outside the centre; a scuffle broke out between TMC and BJP workers.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee personally visited the Sakhawat Memorial Govt.
Girls' High School strongroom for nearly four hours .
TMC has demanded an urgent ECI enquiry and immediate cessation of any unauthorised postal ballot handling across all strongrooms in West Bengal .
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday, 2 May 2026, lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the Returning Officer (RO) of the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting centre in central Kolkata, alleging unauthorised sorting of postal ballot papers on 30 April 2026 in the absence of candidates and their authorised representatives.
What TMC Alleged
In its letter to the ECI, the Trinamool Congress stated that postal ballot covers were sorted at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra strongroom by Election Commission personnel without any prior notice and without the presence of candidates, election agents, or political party representatives. The party said it has enclosed CCTV footage as evidence.
According to TMC, the incident was in direct violation of Paras 11.21.6 and 11.21.7 of the ECI Handbook, which mandate that postal ballot handling be carried out strictly in the presence of candidates or their authorised representatives with due notice and transparency.
Legal Provisions Cited
The party's complaint also invoked Rule 27(3) of the Conduct of Elections (CE) Rules, which requires safe custody of postal ballot covers. TMC further argued that the conduct is punishable under Sections 128(1) and 134 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), as it allegedly involves handling of postal ballot materials in breach of the obligation to maintain secrecy of voting and to discharge official duty in accordance with law. The party termed the incident contrary to the principles of transparency, fairness, and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
On-Ground Protests and Scuffle
TMC's Beleghata candidate Kunal Ghosh and Shyampukur candidate Shashi Panja staged a dharna outside the counting centre, protesting against the sorting carried out without party representatives being present. A scuffle also broke out between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) outside the centre, with workers of both parties exchanging slogans.
Notably, TMC alleged that similar irregularities are being reported at other counting centres and postal ballot strongrooms across West Bengal, raising what the party described as concerns of systemic non-compliance.
Mamata Banerjee's Intervention
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee visited the strongroom at Sakhawat Memorial Govt. Girls' High School, where EVMs from her Bhabanipur constituency are being stored. She remained at the centre for nearly four hours before leaving, and subsequently instructed TMC candidates across the state to maintain a vigilant watch on counting centres overnight for any suspicious activity.
What TMC Has Demanded
The party has demanded that the ECI initiate an urgent enquiry into the incident at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra and fix accountability for the alleged violations. It has also called for an immediate halt to any unauthorised handling or sorting of postal ballot covers at all strongrooms and counting centres, unrestricted access for authorised candidate representatives to CCTV feeds and premises, and verification of postal ballot handling in affected constituencies in the presence of candidates or their representatives. The ECI is yet to publicly respond to the complaint.
Point of View
CE Rules, and RPA sections — which gives it more procedural weight than a routine political allegation. The real question is whether the ECI responds with a formal inquiry or allows the matter to be absorbed into pre-counting noise. If CCTV footage does show sorting without authorised representatives, it would be a procedural breach regardless of intent. The broader pattern — similar complaints reportedly emerging from multiple West Bengal counting centres — suggests this is either a systemic lapse or a coordinated political escalation ahead of results. Either way, the ECI's silence will itself become a story.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TMC complaint to the ECI about?
Trinamool Congress filed a complaint alleging that postal ballot covers were sorted at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra strongroom in Kolkata on 30 April 2026 by Election Commission personnel, without the presence of candidates, election agents, or party representatives and without prior notice. The party says CCTV footage supports the allegation.
Which rules does TMC claim were violated?
TMC cited Paras 11.21.6 and 11.21.7 of the ECI Handbook, Rule 27(3) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, and Sections 128(1) and 134 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) as provisions allegedly breached by the unauthorised sorting.
What has Mamata Banerjee done in response?
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee personally visited the strongroom at Sakhawat Memorial Govt. Girls' High School, where EVMs from her Bhabanipur constituency are kept, spending nearly four hours there. She subsequently directed TMC candidates statewide to maintain overnight vigil at counting centres.
What action has TMC demanded from the ECI?
TMC has demanded an urgent inquiry into the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra incident, immediate cessation of any unauthorised postal ballot handling at all strongrooms, unrestricted CCTV access for candidate representatives, and on-site verification of postal ballot handling in affected constituencies.
Has the ECI responded to the complaint?
As of the filing of this complaint on 2 May 2026, the Election Commission of India had not publicly responded to TMC's allegations regarding the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting centre.
