Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has urged the Election Commission to release CCTV footage of voting and counting processes from the recently held West Bengal Assembly elections, intensifying his allegations over transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Speaking after meeting Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, Yadav said that the footage should be made public to ensure full transparency and restore public confidence in the electoral system. He argued that if court proceedings can be live-streamed, there is no reason why CCTV visuals from polling stations and counting centres should remain undisclosed.
Yadav alleged that there were serious irregularities during the election process and claimed that central forces and election officials were misused in certain areas. He said such actions weaken democratic institutions and demanded that all video records from polling booths and counting halls be made available for scrutiny.
The SP leader also questioned the role of the Election Commission, saying that repeated concerns raised by opposition parties over electoral transparency were not being addressed properly. He insisted that releasing CCTV footage would help clear doubts and ensure accountability in the entire process.
During his visit to Kolkata, Akhilesh Yadav also expressed strong support for Mamata Banerjee, calling her a “fighter” and stating that opposition parties must stand together to protect democracy. He accused the ruling party at the Centre of trying to influence electoral outcomes and weaken opposition voices.
His demand has added to the ongoing political debate over the West Bengal polls, where opposition parties have raised concerns about alleged irregularities, voter list issues and deployment of central forces. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that elections were conducted under strict surveillance and with extensive security arrangements.
Meanwhile, political reactions continue to intensify across the country, with ruling party leaders rejecting the allegations and asserting that the elections were free and fair. They said all procedures were followed according to constitutional guidelines.
The issue of CCTV footage transparency has now become a major point of political confrontation, with opposition leaders across parties echoing similar demands. As the debate grows, attention is now on whether the Election Commission will respond to calls for greater public access to election-related recordings.
