West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cautioned her party members about potential electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering during an election rally in Jiaganj, Murshidabad district. She emphasized the need to safeguard the machines diligently and prevent their reuse after any damage or repairs, as tampering could occur through chip insertion. Banerjee urged her supporters to protect the EVMs once voting is completed.
Addressing the recent chaos at a BJP roadshow in her Bhabanipur constituency, Banerjee criticized the presence of outsiders and the disruptive behavior witnessed during the event. She highlighted incidents of vandalism, protests by locals, and the nomination of outsiders, emphasizing the need for respectful and peaceful political conduct. The roadshow had faced disturbances when Trinamool Congress workers displayed black flags and shoes to BJP members near Banerjee’s residence.
Following the altercation at the roadshow, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had to switch from a ‘rath’ to a car to reach the Survey Building in Alipore for a BJP candidate’s nomination filing. The Election Commission took action by suspending four police officers in the Bhabanipur area due to the incident. Banerjee also criticized the removal of approximately 500 officers by the Election Commission, expressing concerns about potential disruptions to administrative operations in the state.
Banerjee further warned against the deletion of voter names, considering it a form of voter intimidation. She announced plans for a separate budget for farmers and reassured that despite temporary halts in work due to officer removals, all activities would resume post-elections. Banerjee emphasized the importance of maintaining voter lists and ensuring a fair electoral process.
