Didi vs Modi: Who Takes the Throne?
Collected Photo
Who will rule West Bengal? Who will sit on the throne of West Bengal? Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress or Narendra Modi’s BJP? Will it be a return or a change of power?
This discussions erupted across households as soon as voting ended on April 29. Conversations spread through tea stalls, neighborhoods, and kitchens, filling the air with political chatter. Will Bengal’s mandate favor Trinamool’s governance or BJP’s Hindutva agenda??
The state has been in a political frenzy in the last four days. T he tension was palpable, starting from residential areas to street corners. Finally, the suspense is about to end. Bengal will soon know its fate as the Election Commission announces the results after counting votes.
Vote counting will begin at 8 AM local time on Monday. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by votes cast through EVMs.
Counting was conducted across 108 centres in the state in the 2021 elections. This time, it has been reduced to 87 centres initially, and later reduced further by 10 more. In Kolkata alone, there are 11 constituencies, with counting held in five centres. After voting ended, EVMs were sealed in the presence of candidates’ agents and stored in strong rooms across various locations. They have been guarded like treasure by workers of both the Trinamool Congress and BJP for four days, on rotational duty, along with central security forces.
Both parties have issued strict instructions to their workers for counting day. On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said that not a single vote should be allowed to be tampered with. Tight vigilance is being maintained by both sides. Around 5,000 TMC workers have been instructed to stay outside the restricted perimeter of counting centres. Party offices across the state are expected to be busy from the morning with preparations.
Section 163 in force at counting centre
The Election Commission is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring a smooth counting process after peaceful polling. It has deployed 165 additional counting observers and 77 police observers to strengthen security.
Election Commission guidelines
1. Entry within 200 metres of counting centres is restricted to authorised personnel only. Section 163 (earlier Section 144) will remain in force at counting centres.
2. Counting will begin at 8 AM. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by EVM votes. If no postal ballots are present, EVM counting will begin directly.
3. Entry will be allowed only through QR-code-based photo IDs issued via ECI.NET for counting staff, candidates, and their agents.
4. Except for counting observers and returning officers, no one is allowed to carry mobile phones inside counting centres.
5. Police observers will monitor security and law and order around assigned counting centres and ensure compliance with Election Commission guidelines.
6. Police observers will not enter the counting centres under any circumstances on counting day.