The people of West Bengal are on edge as the state prepares for election counting day. Just two days away, the tension is palpable. The ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are going head-to-head, with each side accusing the other of foul play.

The Supreme Court has been drawn into the fray, with the TMC challenging a Calcutta high court order that allowed only central government and PSU employees to supervise the counting process. This move has added fuel to the fire, with both parties trading allegations and counter-allegations. The TMC claims the BJP is trying to rig the system, while the BJP says the TMC is desperate to cling to power.

Adding to the uncertainty, the Election Commission has ordered repolling in 15 polling stations across the state. This decision has sparked a fresh wave of anxiety, as the outcome of the election hangs in the balance. Complaints from other constituencies are still being reviewed, indicating that the administrative process is still very much active.

The situation on the ground is also getting increasingly volatile. Reports of post-poll violence have poured in from districts like Murshidabad, Malda, and North 24 Parganas. Workers from rival parties have clashed, resulting in injuries, arrests, and ongoing police probes. The city's daily rhythm has been disrupted, with private buses still deployed on poll duty causing severe shortages, overcrowding, and delays.

Amidst all this chaos, the Election Commission is working hard to maintain control. Chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal has categorically dismissed allegations of wrongdoing at strongrooms, assuring that the existing safeguards are foolproof. EVM storage facilities are under round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, three-tier security cover, and strict access protocols limited to authorized personnel.

To prevent any further escalation, Kolkata Police has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS around all seven counting centres in the city. Gatherings within a 200-metre radius have been banned, and demonstrations and processions have been restricted until counting begins. Additional deployments of central armed police forces and senior officers have further tightened the security grid, particularly at sensitive locations.

The Election Commission has also clarified that the movement seen inside strongrooms, cited by the TMC as suspicious, was part of a routine process of segregating postal ballots carried out by authorized officials. This clarification has not seemed to ease tensions, however, with both parties continuing to trade barbs.