With the West Bengal Assembly election results just days away, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee are set to hold a crucial virtual meeting with all party counting agents on Saturday.
The meeting, scheduled for 4 pm, comes two days before the official counting of votes on May 4 and is being seen as a key strategic move by the ruling Trinamool Congress to ensure strict vigilance during the counting process.
According to party sources, counting agents from 291 Assembly constituencie where the TMC has fielded candidates will participate in the virtual session. The remaining three seats in the Darjeeling hills are being contested by its ally, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM).
During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are expected to give detailed instructions to agents regarding their roles and responsibilities inside counting centres. The leadership is likely to stress the importance of adhering strictly to Election Commission protocols and maintaining constant vigilance throughout the counting process.
Party insiders said one of the key instructions will be for counting agents to remain present at their respective centres until the entire counting process is completed and official certificates are issued to the winning candidates. Any unusual activity, including disruptions or procedural lapses, must be immediately reported to the party leadership.
The meeting gains added significance amid heightened political tensions in the state. In recent days, the TMC has raised concerns over alleged irregularities at EVM strongrooms and demanded strict monitoring to prevent any malpractice. These concerns have intensified the party’s focus on ensuring transparency and accountability during counting.
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, held in two phases in April, recorded a high voter turnout and are being viewed as a closely fought contest. The counting of votes on May 4 will determine whether the ruling TMC retains power or faces a strong challenge from opposition parties.
As the countdown to results begins, the TMC leadership’s outreach to counting agents reflects a broader effort to tighten its electoral machinery and safeguard every vote in what is shaping up to be a high-stakes political battle.
