BJP‑linked sources have alleged that an attempt to replace an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was made in the Murshidabad assembly segment during the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections, with party workers claiming they caught the person “red‑handed.” The allegation, which surfaced on social media and in partisan political posts, centres on a presiding or polling‑station official whose face is reportedly being deliberately hidden in video clips circulating online. Those posts also refer to the official as an “IPAC‑paid dalal,” linking the person to the I‑PAC political‑consultancy firm, although no official investigation has yet confirmed that characterisation.
Independent reports from polling‑day coverage note that EVM‑related glitches and other disruptions were reported at several stations in Murshidabad, including minor technical faults and delays, but do not state that any machine was physically replaced or tampered with in the way the BJP claim describes. Local media and national outlets have highlighted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office have procedures for sealing, replacing and logging EVMs, including the use of First‑Information Reports and replacement‑record‑sheets, which are meant to ensure transparency whenever a machine is changed.
The claim about an EVM‑replacement attempt in Murshidabad now appears to be part of a broader political narrative, with the BJP and its supporters invoking the Election Commission handles @CEOWestBengal and @ECISVEEP to press for a formal inquiry. The ECI, for its part, has reiterated that any verified case of tampering or procedural violation will be dealt with strictly under electoral‑law protocols, while also urging parties and the public not to circulate unverified visuals as proof of manipulation.