After Mamata's EVM caution, TMC leaders rush to Kolkata strongroom alleging suspicious activity

AS the daylight of the westward Bengal gathering election results approaches, the hold back itself is turn into a high-octane battle, with claims and counterclaims about alleged irregularities coming to the fore.The latest in this regard are Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Beleghata assembly constituency, Kunal Ghosh, and party leader Shashi Panja, who sat on a dharna (sit-in) in Kolkata, alleging the opening of ballot boxes by the Election Commission and the BJP in the strong rooms without the presence of relevant stakeholders.The TMC duo sat on a dharna outside Netaji Indoor Stadium in the state capital.“Party workers and supporters were present outside the strongroom till 3.30 pm. Suddenly, an email was sent informing that the strongroom would be opened again at 4 pm. We contacted our workers and they said they had left. We then rushed here. Now we are not being allowed to enter. BJP is being invited,” Ghosh told reporters. "Ballot papers are being moved inside. Yet the CEO is saying nothing is happening. If postal ballots are being processed, where did they come from? If an email was sent, why were we not informed?" he asked.This comes after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called on party workers to stay up all night to guard the EVM strongrooms.“BJP has played the final game. Share markets would have toppled if the real figures were released. People need to stay together, keep a close watch on counting... Stay up all night,” she said, adding that she will guard the EVM strongrooms herself if need be.“They plan to swap EVMs .... Till the time I hold a press conference and declare, do not leave counting tables ... They might change data in computers, giving our numbers to BJP and BJP's to us, I myself will go to the counting hall, I can do that as a candidate. You have gone through so much. Please bear slightly more to save Bengal,” she said.What the exit polls have predicted for West BengalAccording to Matrize, the TMC+ may fall short of the majority mark by a few seats, winning between 125 and 140 constituencies. It gave the BJP an edge, predicting it may win 146–161 seats, indicating a close contest between the two main parties.A similar projection was given by pollster P-Marq, which said the BJP is expected to take the lead with 150–175 seats, while the incumbent Trinamool Congress may win 118–138 seats. It also projected that other parties could secure between two and six seats.Polls Poll Diary predicted a clear win for the BJP, stating that the party may win 142–171 seats, while the TMC may fall well short of the majority mark with just 99–127 seats.Today's Chanakya has also predicted a major sweep for the BJP, with over 192 seats. The incumbent TMC and its alliance are said to secure around 100 seats.However, pollster People’s Pulse offered a different projection, suggesting that the incumbent TMC government may retain power in the state, though its tally could drop to 177–187 seats from the current 215 in the Assembly. It projected that the BJP would secure 95–110 seats.