Mamata questions EVM credibility, says BJP can manipulate results

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today expressed concerns about potential electoral manipulation by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a rally in Farakka, Bengal, and questioned the "sudden jump in final voter turnout by nearly 5.75 per cent from what was declared earlier" She highlighted the "disappearance of several Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)", raising suspicions of foul play in the electoral process.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

"The sudden jump in final voter turnout by nearly 5.75 per cent from what the Election Commission had released earlier is worrying. There are apprehensions of manipulation of results by the BJP as several EVMS were missing for a long period," said Mamata.

She also criticised the Election Commission for what she deemed as a delay in the final voter turnout figures for the initial two phases of the Lok Sabha polls. She expressed particular concern over the sudden surge in polling percentages during those phases.

The Election Commission had released the voter turnout data of the first two phases of polling, held on April 19 and April 26, on Tuesday evening. According to the EC, a voter turnout of 66.14 per cent was recorded in the first phase and 66.71 per cent in the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal.