Agarwal issued the directions during a virtual meeting with district magistrates and superintendents of police while reviewing the law and order situation following the second and final phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, which concluded on Wednesday.
“Those who created trouble after the polls must be arrested by tonight,” Agarwal said, according to sources in the CEO’s office.
Reports of political clashes emerged from several parts of the state hours after polling ended on Wednesday evening, prompting the Election Commission to step up surveillance. Incidents of unrest were reported from areas such as Behala and Garia in Kolkata, as well as from various districts.
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Sources said the CEO stressed that the administration must remain equally vigilant in the post-poll period and take immediate action in case of any unrest. Agarwal also reminded officials that the election process is still underway and emphasised the need to ensure there are no lapses in security arrangements during the counting of votes on May 4 and the period thereafter.
The Election Commission has also decided to retain around 700 companies of central forces in the state even after the conclusion of polling, officials said.
Strongroom row
Separately, TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja staged a sit-in protest at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in Kolkata, where EVMs from the second phase are being stored, alleging that party workers stationed outside the strongroom were asked to leave in the afternoon and were later informed via email that the facility would be reopened at 4 pm.
“Party workers and supporters were present outside the strongroom till 3.30 pm. Suddenly, an email was sent informing me that the strongroom would be open again at 4 pm. We contacted our workers and they said they had left. We then rushed. Now we are not being allowed to enter. BJP is being invited,” Ghosh claimed.
Panja, contesting the Shyampukur constituency, raised procedural concerns. “The strongroom is extremely sensitive. If it is opened, all political parties must be informed. Why was no one informed?” she said.
TMC’s poll agent for the Belaghata seat, Tarak Chatterjee, alleged that “postal ballots have been fabricated inside the strongroom.” Another TMC leader alleged that live streaming showed activity inside the facility. “Ballot papers are being moved inside. Yet the CEO is saying nothing is happening. If postal ballots are being processed, where did they come from?” he asked.
TMC sources said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also heading to the centre to take stock of the situation.
CEO: EVMs secure, no irregularities
Agarwal maintained that the allegations of EVMs being illegally moved or stolen are baseless, clarifying that reserve machines are routinely transported as part of standard preparedness, carried by sector officers in GPS-tracked vehicles under armed security at all times. He added that lists of backup machines are shared in advance with all contesting candidates, and that unused reserve machines after polling are transported to designated warehouses, not counting centres.
On BJP allegations of EVM tampering using tapes or ink, the CEO said the commission would order a repoll in booths where such charges are proven true, and that any such decision would be based on reports from district election officers or election observers.
Banerjee’s vigil callEarlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged party leaders, candidates, and workers to maintain a 24-hour vigil outside EVM strongrooms. “You must guard the counting centres. There is a plan to change the machines while transporting EVMs. Do not take this lightly,” she said in a video message, adding that no party worker should leave the counting table without her formal instruction.
The second phase of polling saw voting by several key political figures, including Banerjee, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and BJP candidate Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim.
Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
