The fragile equilibrium of West Bengal's electoral process was starkly exposed as the counting centre for seven north and east Kolkata assembly constituencies, Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, became a focal point of contention between the Trinamool Congress and BJP. The tensions arose when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and postal ballots by unidentified individuals caught on CCTV cameras. The allegations, though unsubstantiated, sparked a heated confrontation that saw both parties trading barbs and accusations.

The Election Commission of India (EC) was swift to condemn the allegations, assuring that the strongroom housing the EVMs was secure and under three-tier security. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal maintained that no one could enter the strongroom except authorized officials, thereby dismissing the TMC's claims of EVM tampering. The EC's stance, however, failed to placate the TMC, which continued to insist that the allegations were genuine.

The stand-off escalated as TMC candidates Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh staged a roadside protest outside the counting centre, while Mamata Banerjee herself camped at Sakhawat Memorial High School, the strongroom for the Bhowanipore seat. The presence of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Kolkata Police personnel only added to the tense atmosphere, as BJP workers clashed with their TMC counterparts. Amidst the chaos, Mamata Banerjee urged her party's candidates across all 294 constituencies to maintain a vigil at the EVM strongrooms until May 4, warning that attempts to tamper with EVMs were imminent.

The release of CCTV footage by the TMC, purportedly showing an intrusion into Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, further exacerbated the tensions. Kunal Ghosh alleged manipulation of postal ballots, while the EC claimed that the individuals seen in the footage were authorized representatives segregating postal ballots. Kolkata North district election officer Smita Pandey reassured the TMC candidates that the segregation process had been communicated to the contesting parties in advance, and that additional CCTV cameras would be installed to allay their concerns.

Despite the EC's reassurances, the TMC remained skeptical, questioning the opening of ballot boxes in the absence of stakeholders. The BJP, too, weighed in, with candidates Tapas Ray and Santosh Pathak arriving at the counting centre and leading to a fresh confrontation. The situation was eventually calmed when the rival candidates were made to sit together and explained that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The presence of Mamata Banerjee at the counting centre for the Bhowanipore seat prompted a heated exchange with BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari's representative, who questioned her presence inside the counting centre for so long.