After high drama unfolded last night at two counting centres in West Bengal following Trinamool Congress's allegations of EVM tampering, the Kolkata Police have banned any kind of gatherings in seven areas.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was imposed outside Sakhawat Memorial School, the counting centre and EVM strong room of Bhawanipur Assembly Constituency.
Dismissing TMC's allegations, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal had asserted that there is no scope for wrongdoing at the counting centres.
He said that prohibitory orders have been enforced in Sahid Kshudiram Bose Road, Judge's Court Road, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour Road, Lord Sinha Hall, Naresh Mitra Sarani (Beltala Road) and Pramathesh Barua Sarani.
Meanwhile, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been "under surveillance" to prevent any irregular activity. He added that an election agent is present at the site to ensure transparency and adherence to electoral procedures.
Both BJP and TMC workers had a faceoff outside the counting centre in Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium. TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja protested outside the gate of the counting centre and there was a brief confrontation and altercation between the workers.
While refuting the TMC's allegations, Agarwal said that the last strong room was closed at 5.15 am on Thursday. "After the polling ended on Wednesday, all the strong-rooms were properly closed and sealed in the presence of the concerned candidates/election agents and observers," he said.
He added that the polling officials were sorting the postal ballots from various centres kept at the counting centre.
He said he had also told the returning officers to inform candidates and agents concerned about this exercise.
