KOLKATA — Responding to late-night protests led by the state's Chief Minister, the Election Commission has reassured the public that CCTV footage showing ballot boxes being opened without party representatives present is a sign of a healthy, functioning bureaucracy.

Following allegations of gross electoral fraud just two days before vote counting, the Commission swiftly investigated itself and concluded that no procedural breaches occurred. According to the official report, the activities captured on camera were simply the routine "segregation of ballots" taking place in a corridor.

"All strong rooms containing polled EVMs are safely secured and sealed," an official spokesperson stated, carefully distinguishing the safely sealed rooms from the hallway where the ballots were actually being handled. The official noted that the process was completely transparent, as opposing political parties had been fully informed of the impromptu corridor segregation via email.

The findings build upon the polling body's perfect track record of internal reviews. In 2019, when opposition parties demanded 100 percent VVPAT counting verification over discrepancies, and again during the 2021 assembly elections amid tampering allegations, the Commission successfully determined that its own systems were tamper-proof and dismissed all claims.

At press time, officials were urging politicians to stop staring at the live security footage and instead rely on the Commission's official assurances that everything in the corridor was perfectly fine.