After V-Day Focus Shifts from Poll Booths to EVM Strong Rooms

Following the conclusion of voting, the political focus in West Bengal has shifted from the polling stations to the high-security strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are stored. Candidates and political parties have turned their attention to the “guarding” of these rooms, with representatives from various camps maintaining a 24/7 vigil outside the designated storage centers. This transition marks the beginning of a tense waiting period before the official counting begins, as stakeholders aim to ensure the absolute integrity and safety of the cast ballots.

The Election Commission has implemented a multi-tier security arrangement, involving both state police and central paramilitary forces, to ring-fence the strong rooms. CCTV surveillance and strict logbook entries for any movement near the premises have been mandated to prevent any unauthorized access or tampering. For the political parties, the focus is now on “strong-room management,” with many deploying dedicated teams of volunteers to monitor the sealings and security protocols, reflecting the high-stakes nature of the ongoing 2026 Assembly elections.