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West Bengal repolling updates: Repolling began today at 15 booths in two Assembly constituencies in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district following
directions from the Election Commission after reports of alleged tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the second phase of Assembly elections held on April 29. The Commission invoked provisions under Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to declare the earlier polling at these booths invalid. The decision was based on detailed inputs submitted by Returning Officers and election observers, who highlighted issues that warranted a re-run of the voting process.
Fresh Voting at 15 Booths of Magrahat Paschim, Diamond Harbour
The Election Commission has directed a fresh round of voting in 15 polling stations across two assembly constituencies in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, following complaints and official reports flagging irregularities during the second phase of polling.According to the order, repolling will take place in 11 booths under the 142-Magrahat Paschim constituency and four booths in the 143-Diamond Harbour constituency. Voting is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, and will be conducted between 7 AM and 6 PM.
The affected booths had originally gone to polls on April 29 during the second phase of the ongoing assembly elections. However, following multiple complaints, the Commission reviewed the situation and decided to nullify the voting at these locations.
Sources indicate that a report from the Falta assembly segment is still pending, and a final call on that constituency is yet to be taken.
This marks the first instance of repolling in the current round of assembly elections being held across West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. Notably, no such action was required during the first phase of polling in West Bengal on April 23.
After the second phase, the Election Commission had received demands for repolling in as many as 77 booths spread across four constituencies in South 24 Parganas. Allegations included tampering attempts involving electronic voting machines, where buttons were reportedly marked with substances such as ink, adhesive materials, black tape, and even perfume.
It remains unclear whether additional booths among the remaining 62 flagged locations will also see fresh polling.
Reacting to the development, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said the scope of repolling should have been wider. He argued that more booths, especially in the Falta segment, should have been considered. Adhikari added that the process involves reviewing CCTV footage, observer inputs, and reports from presiding officers, and said his party respects the Election Commission’s decision-making process.
