The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday ordered re-elections at 15 polling stations in two assembly constituencies — Magrahat Paschim AC and Diamond Harbour AC — in West Bengal.
According to the
ECI, fresh elections will be conducted at 11 polling stations in 142–Magrahat Paschim AC and four polling stations in 143–Diamond Harbour AC in the South 24 Parganas district.
The original polling held on April 29 at these booths has been declared void under Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, said the poll body in an official release, adding fresh elections will be held on May 2.
Why Repolling Ordered In 2 Seats?
Fresh elections were ordered across 15 polling stations in Magrahat Paschim AC and Diamond Harbour AC after the Election Commission received complaints of vote tampering at these booths during the second phase of elections.
The second phase of elections was held on Wednesday, April 29.
The complaints alleged that buttons on electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Falta, Magrahat, Diamond Harbour and Budge Budge constituencies were marked with black tape, adhesive substances, ink, and even perfume.
Later, sources said 23 cases of the alleged vote tampering had been prima facie confirmed, with 20 from Falta.
The second phase of elections in Bengal witnessed widespread chaos and political stir as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that buttons corresponding to its candidates were deliberately covered with tape to conceal their names and confuse voters.
This is what Mamata Banerjee was defending when she spoke up for Jehangir Khan, a criminal contesting on a TMC ticket from Falta in Diamond Harbour.
In several polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked using a tape, effectively preventing voters from… pic.twitter.com/sKw3mcdA86
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 29, 2026
As the uproar intensified, West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) stated on Wednesday that e-polling would be ordered in booths where such violations are confirmed.
West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 92.47 per cent across the two phases —on April 23 and 29 — the highest in the state since independence.
