Mamata-Abishek to Address Counting Agents Today Amid Strong Room Tampering Fears

TMC leadership to hold virtual meet at 4 pm; agents asked to stay vigilant as Bengal awaits Lok Sabha results

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual meeting with counting agents on Saturday evening, party sources confirmed. The 4 pm session comes as the ruling party raises concerns over possible tampering inside strong rooms where EVMs are stored ahead of the June 4 vote count.

Virtual Meet at 4 pm

The online briefing will cover counting-day protocols, with emphasis on maintaining constant watch at each table. According to officials familiar with the planning, nearly all booth-level agents have been assigned and will receive final instructions before the meeting ends. The TMC leadership is not leaving anything to chance this time.

Agents Told to Ignore Exit Polls

Sources indicate that Abhishek Banerjee will specifically ask counting agents to disregard exit poll projections entirely. "Stay alert till the last round is completed," a party insider quoted the instruction. Agents have been told that substitutes must be ready to step in whenever needed, and any unusual activity near counting tables requires immediate reporting to the candidate's representative.

Strong Room Tensions in Kolkata

The directive follows heightened anxieties around strong room security over the past fortnight. At Shakhaowat Memorial School in south Kolkata, TMC representatives had flagged what they called "loose access protocols" last week. Similar concerns emerged from Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, where party workers reported unauthorised personnel movement during late evening hours. Local authorities have denied any irregularities, but the opposition remains unconvinced.

Discipline Over Provocation

Agents will receive a clear message about maintaining restraint inside counting centres. "Do not engage in arguments. Do not walk away from your post. Report, don't react," a draft advisory reportedly states. The party expects nearly 50,000 agents across Bengal's 42 constituencies to remain on guard through what could be a long counting day. Many will work in 12-hour shifts, with limited breaks.

What Happens Next

Counting of votes for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal begins at 8 am on June 4. Postal ballots will be taken up first, followed by EVM counts. The TMC has set up district-level control rooms to receive real-time updates from agents. Mamata Banerjee is expected to be at her Kalighat residence through the day, monitoring trends as they emerge. For now, the message is simple: watch every vote, trust no shortcut, and stay till the final number is called out.