Kolkata. Before the counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, BJP leaders Shubhendu Adhikari and Soumitra Khan have made serious allegations by posting on X. Shubhendu Adhikari claims that it has come to his notice that many officers on duty on the day of counting of votes are allegedly giving information to departmental organizations and unions about their duty, place and designation. According to Shubhendu, some spreadsheets and lists are being circulated. Which are being filled by the officers engaged in counting the votes.
At the same time, BJP leader Soumitra Khan has released a video alleging that the DMs and returning officers of the districts associated with I-PAC and TMC are asking for the IDs of the officers counting the votes through WhatsApp to make fake identity cards. BJP leader Soumitra Khan has said that the officers counting the votes will have to go through multiple stages of physical checking of their IDs. He has demanded from the Election Commission to immediately stop the collection of sensitive documents of officers through unofficial social media platforms. Soumitra Khan has demanded that the Election Commission should investigate the alleged nexus between the returning officers and the DM to ensure that the sanctity of the vote is not compromised.
Let us tell you that due to large number of irregularities in voting, the Election Commission has canceled the elections for Phalta assembly seat of Diamond Harbor area. Now elections will be held on Phalta seat of West Bengal on 21st May. Counting of votes here will take place on May 24. At the same time, when cases of irregularities came to light during voting, the Election Commission conducted re-voting at 11 booths of Magrahat assembly seat of West Bengal and 4 booths of Diamond Harbour. Now BJP leaders have alleged that preparations are being made to create irregularities in the counting of votes. In such a situation, it remains to be seen what kind of action the Election Commission takes. The Election Commission has already announced to provide ID cards with QR code to the officers counting the votes as well as the agents of all the parties. They will get entry only after checking the QR code with the machine.
