The Election Commission has ordered re-polling in 15 polling stations across Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituencies in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on May 2, following complaints of EVM tampering during the recent Assembly polls.
Polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm in 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four booths in Diamond Harbour, after the Commission declared the earlier polling void under Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The move follows allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party that buttons on Electronic Voting Machines were tampered with using adhesive tape, alongside complaints of booth jamming and rigging.
Voting in these booths had taken place on April 29 during the second and final phase of the Assembly elections.
Sources indicated that a decision is awaited on the possibility of re-polling in around 30 additional booths in the Falta Assembly constituency, where similar allegations have been raised.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in the region, particularly as Falta falls within the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency represented by Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee.
Videos circulated by opposition leaders allegedly showed tape placed near the names and symbols of certain candidates on EVM panels, raising concerns over restricted voting options in some booths.
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal had earlier stated that re-polling would be ordered wherever violations are confirmed, reiterating the Commission’s “zero tolerance” approach to electoral malpractice.
Also read: Post-poll violence reported in 3 Bengal districts; probe on
He said the final decision would be based on reports submitted by district election officers and poll observers.
Preliminary findings, he added, did not indicate any mishandling of machines by polling personnel during preparation or mock polls, suggesting that any alleged interference may have occurred during voting hours.
Under Election Commission guidelines, placing any object or substance such as tape on EVM buttons is treated as a serious offence, potentially amounting to interference with the voting process.
The Assembly elections in West Bengal recorded a turnout of 92.93 per cent across two phases, the highest since Independence.
EC takes cognisance after Mamata’s strongroom visit
The Election Commission of India has taken cognisance of the situation at a strongroom in Sakhawat Memorial School in Kolkata following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s late-night visit on Thursday, with the District Election Officer of South Kolkata submitting a detailed report.
The report details the deployment of central forces and protests by Trinamool Congress workers, as supporters of rival parties engaged in sloganeering outside the premises.
Banerjee arrived at the facility around 8:15 pm and remained there for nearly four hours as security was tightened.
Addressing the media, she alleged irregularities involving Electronic Voting Machines, stating, “The EVMs for my constituency are kept here. Footage indicating irregularities has emerged from multiple locations, including the Netaji Indoor Stadium. I rushed here upon learning about possible tampering.”
She also claimed she was initially stopped from entering, saying, “As a candidate from Bhabanipur constituency, I have every right to access the area as per Election Commission guidelines.”
“If there is any attempt to manipulate the mandate, I will oppose it till my last breath,” she added.
The Chief Minister further raised concerns over the functioning of the state police under the Commission’s supervision and held the poll body accountable for any lapses.
The Commission is reviewing the report, with further action expected in the coming days.
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