The Election Commission of India dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s claims that her defeat in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency was due to misappropriation during vote counting at Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls College in South Kolkata. The district electoral officer of Kolkata (Dakshin) refuted the allegations, stating that the counting process was fair and transparent, following all prescribed procedures. The office also denied Banerjee’s assertions about CCTV cameras being turned off during counting.
Just hours after Banerjee’s press conference, the electoral officer’s office declared the Trinamool Congress candidate’s claims baseless and fabricated. They emphasized that the counting was conducted in accordance with Election Commission guidelines and regulations. Additionally, they rejected Banerjee’s allegations of physical altercation within the counting center, stating that the CCTV was operational throughout the process.
The electoral officer’s office clarified that the counting was briefly paused at Banerjee’s request but resumed later following guidelines. Banerjee lost to Suvendu Adhikari by a significant margin in Bhabanipur, with Adhikari also winning from his native Nandigram constituency. The Election Commission’s statement aimed to dispel any doubts regarding the integrity of the electoral process.
