Kolkata, May 4 -- Amid allegations over discarded VVPAT slips ahead of vote counting, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Monday asserted that the possibility of vote theft was "non-existent," emphasising the robustness of the electronic voting system and security arrangements.

"The issue of vote theft doesn't even arise; votes are locked in the EVM. The security is so tight that the question of vote theft doesn't come up at all," Agarwal said.

He further stated that strict measures were being taken to maintain law and order during the sensitive counting period. "I have instructed the DM that no permission be granted for victory processions today. Permission will be granted starting tomorrow. Permissions will be i...