ECI Rejects Mamata’s Rigging Allegations as Bengal Post-Poll Tensions Escalate

Kolkata, May 2026 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday strongly refuted allegations made by outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding irregularities in the counting process for the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, intensifying an already charged post-election political atmosphere in the state.

Earlier in the day, Banerjee had alleged that her defeat from Bhabanipur in south Kolkata was the result of “counting misappropriation” at the counting centre located at Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls’ College. She claimed that the process was manipulated and lacked transparency, raising serious questions about the integrity of the election.

However, within hours of her remarks, the office of the District Electoral Officer (DEO) for Kolkata South issued an official statement categorically dismissing her claims as “baseless and fabricated.” The DEO’s office asserted that the counting process was conducted strictly in accordance with all guidelines, rules, and regulations laid down by the ECI.

“The counting process was carried out in a free, fair, and transparent manner, observing all prescribed norms,” the statement said, directly countering Banerjee’s allegations.

The DEO’s office also rejected claims that CCTV cameras at the counting centre were switched off during the process. According to the statement, surveillance systems remained operational throughout, and there was no disruption in monitoring.

“The CCTV was never switched off. Any claims to the contrary are incorrect,” the statement clarified, further dismissing Banerjee’s allegation that she was physically mistreated or “kicked” at the counting centre as a “figment of imagination.”

Officials acknowledged that counting was briefly paused on Monday evening but clarified that this was done at Banerjee’s insistence. The process, they added, resumed later in compliance with established procedures and with due intimation to all concerned parties.

Banerjee lost the Bhabanipur seat to senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari by a margin exceeding 15,000 votes. Adhikari also secured victory from his traditional stronghold of Nandigram, further consolidating his political standing in the state.

The controversy comes a day after the All India Trinamool Congress suffered a significant electoral defeat, ending its 15-year rule in West Bengal. Despite the outcome, Banerjee has refused to concede defeat, maintaining that the results do not reflect the true will of the people.

“Why should I resign? This is not a real defeat. The results are a product of massive manipulation and vote-looting,” she said during a press conference, where she was accompanied by senior party leaders, including her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

Banerjee also emphasised the need to strengthen the opposition alliance at the national level, stating that leaders from the INDIA bloc had expressed solidarity following the results. She claimed to have received calls from prominent figures such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, and Hemant Soren, all of whom, she said, extended support.

“The INDIA bloc will emerge stronger. We will continue to build a united opposition against the BJP,” Banerjee asserted, signalling a broader national political strategy despite the state-level setback.

She further escalated her criticism by alleging that the election was less a contest against the BJP and more a struggle against the Election Commission itself. Accusing the ECI of bias, Banerjee claimed that actions such as voter list revisions under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and administrative reshuffles prior to the polls were part of a coordinated effort to disadvantage her party.

“The ECI created a black chapter in democratic history. They denied many people their right to vote and harassed our party workers through raids. There was clear coordination between the BJP and the ECI,” she alleged, even suggesting involvement of top central leadership in what she described as a conspiracy.

The ECI, however, has not responded to these broader political accusations beyond its formal statement on the counting process.

With both sides holding firm to their positions, the dispute has added a new layer of confrontation to West Bengal’s political landscape. Analysts believe the issue could escalate further, potentially moving into legal and institutional arenas if the allegations are formally pursued.

For now, the state remains on edge, with political tensions running high and attention focused on how the situation unfolds in the coming days.