The TMC immediately and directly attacked the election’s fairness. They allege that almost 3 million eligible voters were removed from the voting lists, making people question if the final vote count actually showed what the people of the state wanted. Banerjee also said the Election Commission of India and many other agencies were strongly biased.
(Alleged irregularities and the counting room)
Banerjee said that the way institutions behaved has destroyed how much the public trusts that the election was fair, believable and open. He says the way electronic voting machines (EVMs) were handled, how the main parts of the EVMs were moved, and how the counting was done all caused widespread worry.
Demands for evidence and verification
To get people to have confidence again, Banerjee wants the CCTV recordings from the counting centers released, and the paper trail from the VVPAT machines to be counted in a way that everyone can see. He believes that only a check that can be confirmed will settle the doubts about whether the actual wishes of the voters were respected.
Banerjee believes transparency is key for institutions to be seen as legitimate; democratic organizations should give people confidence, and he thinks recent events have seriously damaged that confidence.
The TMC leader repeated that questions about where the main parts of the EVMs went and whether they matched up aren’t unimportant details. They’re really important for voters to be sure of the results, and many people are wondering if the final results are truly what the people voted for.
What TMC wants authorities to do now
He added that his party will use any legal and democratic option available to get the video footage and verify the votes.
Post-poll violence and safety of workers
Beyond the way the election was run, Banerjee says TMC workers were attacked, threatened and had their party offices damaged after the results were announced. He said some supporters were made to leave their homes because they were scared, and that’s something that shouldn’t happen in a democracy.
He emphasized that people involved in politics shouldn’t have to pick between staying safe and their political beliefs, and he told supporters who’ve been threatened to contact him directly for help.
Appeal for reports and legal follow-up
Banerjee asked party workers who are facing threats to give him the details so he can start legal action to protect them and make sure anyone who used violence against them is held responsible.
He says doing these things is necessary to make sure everyone, no matter who they support, can participate in politics safely.
A new government, a combative opposition
Suvendu Adhikari’s swearing-in ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other important BJP politicians, was the first time the BJP had ever had a Chief Minister in West Bengal. Almost immediately, the TMC showed they won’t let the BJP control the story of what the people wanted.
Banerjee said that the TMC, under Mamata Banerjee’s direction, will be a strong, outspoken and unyielding opposition in both Delhi (the national government) and West Bengal.
Right now, the party is focusing on getting documentary proof and helping workers on the ground. They are combining demands for the footage and VVPAT verification with providing support to people who say they’ve been intimidated.
Banerjee’s first reaction after the swearing-in focused on immediate remedies rather than a protracted dispute. He pressed for time-bound disclosures and on-record audits to settle questions about the count:
– Release CCTV footage from counting centres
– Conduct transparent counting of VVPAT slips
– Clarify EVM handling and control unit mismatches
– Address alleged partisan actions by institutions
What to watch next
How quickly institutions respond to the demands for openness will likely determine how much trust there is in politics after a very hard-fought election.
