PTC Web Desk:  Just days before vote counting in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sparked a fresh political debate by raising concerns over the safety of EVMs.

In a video message released on April 30, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief appeared in a calm but serious tone, standing with folded hands and asking party workers to stay alert and keep a close watch on EVM strong rooms. She warned of possible attempts to tamper with the machines before counting day.

Later the same evening, Mamata Banerjee visited a strong room in South Kolkata despite heavy rain. She claimed that she had seen suspicious activity in CCTV visuals and alleged that proper procedures were not being followed at some locations.

She remained at the site for several hours and said any attempt to interfere with the voting process would be strongly opposed. At the same time, she expressed confidence that her party would win and also appealed for peace.

Other TMC leaders also staged protests outside strong rooms, claiming that party representatives were not allowed inside at certain points and that rules were being violated. The party even shared some CCTV clips to support its claims.

However, the Election Commission rejected these allegations, saying the EVMs are protected by multiple security layers and tampering is nearly impossible during storage.

What has caught attention is the timing of these allegations. In the past, the TMC has not been very aggressive on the EVM issue, unlike Rahul Gandhi, who has often questioned their reliability. In fact, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee had earlier dismissed such concerns and said there was no proof that EVMs could be hacked.

So why is the party raising the issue now?

One reason could be recent exit polls, which have predicted a strong performance by the BJP. Mamata Banerjee has already dismissed these surveys, calling them attempts to influence public opinion. By raising concerns about EVM safety, the TMC may be preparing to question the results if they do not go in its favour.

Another reason could be political strategy. By highlighting the issue, the party is trying to keep its workers alert and energised, presenting the election as a fight to protect people’s votes.

Her visit to the strong room, especially in bad weather, also sends a message of strong leadership and involvement, something that may help in mobilising supporters.

At the same time, opposition leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, have criticised the move. They say the TMC is trying to create an excuse in advance in case the results are not favourable.

With votes already cast and stored, the focus has now shifted to counting day. Whether these concerns are based on real fears or are part of a political strategy will become clearer once the results are announced.

For now, the EVM debate has once again taken centre stage in West Bengal politics, adding to the tension ahead of counting day.