All parties set up camps outside strong room in Arambagh
The Statesman | 1 May 2026
Following the completion of voting in the Arambagh sub-division across the four Assembly constituencies of Goghat, Pursurah, Khanakul and Arambagh last Thursday, EVMs from Arambagh and Goghat were brought to the strongroom at Arambagh Netaji Mahavidyalaya that evening. This morning, machines from Khanakul and Pursurah were also moved there under strict security. The strongroom remains under the close watch of Central forces.
All political parties have established temporary camps outside the college to guard against any alleged manipulation or tampering with the machines.
Arambagh TMC candidate Mita Bag said that, in line with the directive of party chief Mamata Banerjee, a war room had been set up outside the college gate to monitor the strongroom and any suspicious activity. She added that the high voter turnout reflected support for the progress and development achieved under Trinamul.
BJP candidate for Pursurah, Biman Bose, stated that while his party trusted the Central forces deployed for security, they remained wary of the presence of TMC leaders and workers outside the strongroom. “Hence, we too have set up a temporary camp,” he said. Bose claimed that the high turnout favoured the BJP, citing women’s concerns over safety and preference for the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, farmers’ dissatisfaction with crop prices, migrant workers’ lack of job opportunities in the state, and government employees’ support for the Central government’s Seventh Pay Commission. He argued that these groups wanted a “double engine government” in the state.
Other parties have also set up camps outside the college gate. All camps are expected to disperse once counting begins.