In a high-decibel confrontation just 36 hours before the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh has accused the BJP of attempting to "manipulate the counting system" from within. His allegations center on a controversial Election Commission (EC) circular regarding the appointment of counting supervisors, which has sparked a legal battle reaching the Supreme Court.
Ghosh claimed that the BJP was working in tandem with the Election Commission to ensure that only Central Government and PSU employees, rather than state government staff, were appointed as counting supervisors and assistants. According to Ghosh, this was a deliberate move to create a "partisan environment" inside the counting halls to benefit the opposition. "The BJP knows they are facing a massive defeat, so they are trying every dirty trick to hijack the counting process," Ghosh stated during a press briefing in Kolkata.
The row escalated to the Supreme Court on Saturday, May 2, after the TMC challenged a Calcutta High Court order that had initially allowed the EC’s plan. In a significant development, the Supreme Court noted the Election Commission's clarification that the counting teams would actually be a "mix" of both central and state government employees. Following this, Ghosh characterized the outcome as a "big setback" for the EC and the BJP, asserting that the inclusion of state employees would act as a safeguard against potential manipulation.
This administrative battle follows a week of intense "strongroom drama." Just days ago, Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja staged a dharna outside the Netaji Indoor Stadium, alleging that CCTV footage showed unauthorized "intrusion" and the opening of ballot boxes without party representatives present. While the EC dismissed these claims as "baseless rumors," the TMC has remained on high alert, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instructing all candidates to maintain a 24/7 vigil at counting centers until the final result is declared.
As the state gears up for the May 4 tally, the political climate is one of extreme suspicion. While the TMC frames the struggle as a defense of "democratic transparency," the BJP has hit back, calling the accusations a "pre-emptive excuse" for an impending electoral loss. With the Supreme Court now having weighed in on the personnel mix, all eyes remain on the strongrooms where the fate of West Bengal lies under heavy central force protection.
