West Bengal is on edge ahead of the vote count on May 4, with the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in a heated dispute over the security of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The issue centers around the strongrooms where EVMs are stored, with both parties raising concerns about the safety and security of the machines.

The tensions flared up at the Barasat Government College in North 24 Parganas district on Saturday, where the CCTV monitoring display went dark for 17 minutes.

This sparked a protest by Trinamool workers and candidates, who demanded that the full footage of the period be made available and that strict action be taken against whoever turned off the monitor.

An investigation is underway, with officials saying that the external monitor had been powered off, and the feed resumed once it was switched on.

The BJP has also flagged two similar incidents - one in Salt Lake and another in Burdwan - where they claim the strongrooms were opened multiple times without official notification.

Meanwhile, a Trinamool candidate, Shyampukur, visited the strongroom at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Saturday, where she claimed the guards initially stopped her from entering, saying those already inside must exit first. She also flagged the lack of CCTVs in the strongroom, claiming officials told her that cameras would be installed 'shortly'.

As the vote count approaches, the dispute over EVM security is adding to the already tense atmosphere in West Bengal.