The Election Commission has ordered repolling at 15 polling stations in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district following allegations of irregularities during the second phase of Assembly elections. The fresh voting will be held on Saturday between 7 am and 6 pm, covering 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour.
The decision comes after complaints from voters and political parties, including the BJP, which alleged that electronic voting machine (EVM) buttons were tampered with in parts of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, particularly in Falta. According to the allegations, buttons corresponding to certain candidates were partially obscured using tape, raising concerns about restricted voter choice.
Polling at these booths had originally taken place on April 29, but has now been declared void under Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The provision empowers the Election Commission to cancel voting and order a repoll if serious irregularities—such as tampering, violence, or procedural lapses—are found to have compromised the integrity of the process.
The controversy intensified after videos circulated by BJP leaders appeared to show adhesive material placed near candidate names on EVM panels. The affected constituency includes areas considered a political stronghold of Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee. In Falta, one of the flashpoints, TMC-linked candidate Jahangir Khan is in the fray.
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal said the Commission is maintaining a “zero tolerance” stance on any form of electoral malpractice. He noted that repolling decisions are based on detailed assessments of reports submitted by district officials and election observers.
Preliminary findings, according to Agarwal, did not point to any lapses during the preparation of EVMs or mock polling exercises, suggesting that any alleged interference may have occurred during voting hours.
Under Election Commission norms, placing foreign substances or objects—including tape, ink, or other materials—on EVM buttons is treated as a serious offence and may constitute interference with the voting process.
The second phase of polling was marked by heightened tensions and political accusations. Despite the controversy, voter turnout remained exceptionally high. Combined participation across the first two phases stood at 92.47 percent, the highest recorded in the state since Independence. Phase II alone saw a turnout of 92.67 percent, while Phase I, held on April 23, recorded 93.19 percent.
