Calcutta HC: Preserve Bhowanipore Poll Counting Records
Ms Banerjee’s counsel and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee however reposed his faith in Justice Kanth and said he had no objection. He argued during the hearing that the pattern of voting changed dramatically from the 13th round of counting of votes when Mr Adhikari's agents visited the counting centre at Shakhawat Memorial School
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the preservation of EVMs, VVPATs and CCTV footage related to the counting of votes of the Bhowanipore constituency on May 4 in the Assembly polls into the election petition filed by Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee challenging her defeat at the seat to Suvendu Adhikari of BJP.
Justice Gaurang Kanth of the HC, who passed the order, also directed that no records of the counting process be destroyed or altered without his permission. He scheduled the next hearing after two months. Before hearing Ms Banerjee's plea, the judge revealed his brother’s role as a BJP spokesperson and wanted to know if either side had any objection to him in hearing the matter.
Ms Banerjee’s counsel and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee however reposed his faith in Justice Kanth and said he had no objection. He argued during the hearing that the pattern of voting changed dramatically from the 13th round of counting of votes when Mr Adhikari's agents visited the counting centre at Shakhawat Memorial School.
Mr Banerjee also pointed out that the former West Bengal chief minister had been leading by nearly 7,000 votes after the 12th round of counting. He then vowed to demonstrate charts how the result was altered and sought the preservation of records of the counting process. The judge later passed his order.
