Abhishek Banerjee Demands CCTV Footage From Counting Centres, Alleges 30 Lakh Voters Were ‘Disenfranchised’

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday launched a strong attack on the electoral process in West Bengal, alleging large-scale irregularities, partisan conduct by institutions and post-poll violence after the BJP's historic victory in the state Assembly elections.

In a lengthy post on X, Abhishek Banerjee claimed that nearly 30 lakh genuine voters were allegedly removed from the electoral rolls and questioned the fairness and transparency of the election process.

His statement came shortly after the BJP officially formed its first government in West Bengal under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

We have fought an extremely difficult election where nearly 30 lakh genuine voters were allegedly disenfranchised from the electoral rolls. Throughout this entire process, we witnessed what we believe was deeply partisan conduct by several government agencies as well as the…

— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) May 9, 2026

'Democratic Institutions Appeared Compromised'

In his social media statement, Abhishek Banerjee alleged that several democratic institutions failed to function impartially during the election process.

He accused government agencies and the Election Commission of India of behaving in a partisan manner and claimed the developments had damaged public trust in democratic systems.

According to the TMC leader, incidents related to EVM handling, counting procedures and alleged mismatches involving control units raised serious concerns among voters.

He said these issues left many people questioning whether the actual mandate of the public had been properly reflected in the final results.

Demand For CCTV Footage And VVPAT Verification

Abhishek Banerjee also demanded greater transparency in the counting process.
He called for the release of CCTV footage from counting centres and sought transparent counting of VVPAT slips to address doubts surrounding the election outcome.

The TMC leader said democracy survives only when electoral institutions inspire confidence among citizens and added that recent events had "deeply shaken" that trust.
His remarks are among the strongest statements made by a senior TMC leader since the party's defeat in the Assembly elections.

Concerns Over Post-Poll Violence

Apart from questioning the electoral process, Abhishek Banerjee also raised concerns over alleged post-poll violence in different parts of West Bengal.

He claimed that several Trinamool Congress workers and supporters had allegedly faced attacks, intimidation and threats after the election results.

According to him, some party workers were forced to leave their homes due to fear and insecurity.
"No political worker in a democracy should ever have to choose between their safety and their political beliefs," he said in his statement.

He also urged affected workers and supporters to contact him directly or send details through direct messages if they had faced violence or threats.

TMC Promises Strong Opposition Role

Despite the election setback, Abhishek Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress would continue to function as a "strong, vocal and uncompromising opposition" both in West Bengal and at the national level.

He reaffirmed the party's commitment to fighting for democracy, constitutional values and the rights of people under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.

The TMC leader also appealed to party workers to remain united during what he described as a difficult political period for the organisation.

BJP Forms Government In Bengal For First Time

The BJP secured a historic win in the West Bengal Assembly elections by winning 207 seats, ending years of political dominance by regional parties in the state.

Following the victory, Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the new Chief Minister at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several senior NDA leaders.

As the BJP begins its first term in power in Bengal, the political battle between the saffron party and the Trinamool Congress appears set to continue both inside and outside the Assembly.