Assembly elections 2026 LIVE: No scope for wrongdoing at counting centres, says Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the EVM strong room at Bhabanipur counting centre in Sakhawat Memorial School, Kolkata, spending nearly four hours amid allegations of possible malpractices.

RSP state secretary Shibu Baby John said the party would express its view on the Congress’ chief ministerial candidate only if asked after the Assembly election results are announced on May 4, reaffirming alliance autonomy.

PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss urged party workers to remain vigilant and coordinated during the counting process in Tamil Nadu.

Security was tightened outside the Netaji Indoor Stadium counting centre in Kolkata ahead of May 4 counting as senior TMC leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh staged a sit-in protest over alleged access to EVM/VVPAT boxes without authorised party representatives.

Stalin stated there is no need to rely on exit polls and reinforced that counting on May 4 would reflect the party’s work, with rewards for cadres on that day.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that counting of votes from the April 23 Assembly elections would take place on May 4, with cadres’ efforts expected to be rewarded on that day.

Puducherry recorded the highest overall turnout among third gender electors at 91.81%, with 139 third gender electors participating.

Election Commission data show 56.79% turnout among third gender electors in Phase I and 91.28% in Phase II of West Bengal’s Assembly polls, with 1,257 total third gender electors across both phases (465 in Phase I, 792 in Phase II).

MDMK founder Vaiko expressed absolute confidence in the DMK-led coalition’s victory, acknowledging some surveys favor AIADMK or TVK and stressing that projections are speculative until official counting.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dismissed exit polls predicting a BJP-led government in West Bengal as unreliable, predicting results would likely be opposite; he noted past instances where polls misled observers.

Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal told reporters there is no scope for wrongdoing at counting centres due to round-the-clock CCTV monitoring of strong rooms, calling allegations baseless and urging claims be supported by evidence.

The Election Commission announced a QR code-based photo identity system to prevent unauthorized entry at counting centres, with three-tier verification: manual checks of RO-issued IDs (tiers 1 and 2) and QR verification near the counting hall (tier 3).

The Calcutta High Court on April 30, 2026 concluded a petition hearing challenging the EC directive to deputise central government and central PSUs employees for counting in West Bengal, aiming to ensure transparency.

Tamil Nadu had 7,728 third gender electors, of whom 60.49% voted in the April 23 polls.