Mamata Banerjee Alleges Electoral Fraud After Bhabanipur Loss, Shares Audio Evidence
Mamata Banerjee, outgoing Chief Minister of West Bengal, has alleged that her defeat in the Bhabanipur Assembly seat was the result of electoral manipulation, claiming the Election Commission, CRPF, and local officials acted in collusion with the BJP. In an audio recording shared by Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Facebook, she described the verdict as a 'stolen' and 'unethical dirty game,' alleging that 'goons' entered counting centers and her party had no representation during critical rounds of vote counting.
Banerjee claimed her counting agent was physically removed 'with the help of CRPF' and that CCTV cameras at the center were switched off during contested rounds. She accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating the misconduct through the EC and central forces, saying she filed a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal that went unaddressed. The Bhabanipur seat was won by BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, marking a significant reversal after early trends favored Banerjee.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh confirmed that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi spoke with Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin following the results, offering solidarity and congratulating the DMK-led TVK on its performance. The calls signal early coordination among opposition figures in response to the election outcome.
The Election Commission has not yet responded to the allegations. The West Bengal State Election Commission is expected to review formal complaints, if filed, while legal challenges to the Bhabanipur result may follow in the coming days.