Election Commission Orders Repolling in 15 Booths in West Bengal Amid EVM Tampering Allegations

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has ordered repolling in 15 polling stations across two constituencies in West Bengal following the second phase of Assembly elections held on April 29. Fresh polling will take place on May 2 between 7 am and 6 pm in South 24 Parganas district, covering 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour. The poll body said the decision was based on reports from returning officers and election observers, declaring the earlier voting in these booths void under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Authorities have been directed to ensure wide publicity of the repoll, including informing candidates and local voters. "I am directed to state that based on reports received from the concerned Returning Officers and the Observers of 142-Magrahat Paschim AC and 143-Diamond Harbour AC regarding poll taken for General Election to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2026, held on 29th April, 2026 and after taking all material circumstances into account, the Commission hereby declares, under sub-section (2) of Section 58 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, that the poll taken on 29th April, 2026 for the aforementioned election at the following Polling Stations (as mentioned in Column 3 of the table below) to be void and appoints 2nd May, 2026 as the date and fixes the hours, for taking fresh poll at the said Polling Stations," West Bengal's chief electoral officer wrote in the order. "I am further to state that the widest possible publicity should be given by beating of drums in the polling area, and contesting candidates should be informed in writing about the fresh poll being taken on the said date," the poll body said. The decision follows allegations of irregularities during voting, particularly in parts of Diamond Harbour's Falta segment. BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya claimed that voters were prevented from selecting the party option in certain booths, alleging that EVM buttons were covered with tape. List of booths where repolling will take place Magrahat Paschim (11 booths) 46 – Uttar Yearpur F.P School, Room Number 2 126 – Najra F.P School, Room Number 1 127 – Najra F.P School, Room Number 2 128 – Deula F.P School, Room Number 1 142 – Ghola Noyapara Girls' High Madrasha, Room Number 2 214 – Ektara Malaya F.P School, Room Number 1 215 – Ektara Malaya F.P School, Room Number 2 216 – Ektara Malaya Dhora F.P School, Room Number 1 230 – Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P School, Room Number 1 231 – Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P School, Room Number 2 232 – Bahirpuya Kurkuria F.P School, Room Number 3 Diamond Harbour (4 booths) 117 – Bagda Junior High School 179 – Chandra F.P School, Room Number 2 194 – Haridevpur F.P School 243 – Roynagar F.P School, Room Number 2 In a post on X, Malviya wrote, "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 exercising their choice. This is the so-called 'Diamond Harbour Model,' the same template that helped Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat." Earlier, West Bengal chief electoral officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal had said such complaints would be verified and acted upon. "If reports of taping of any button come in, that should be verified and noted. If true, those booths will go for a repoll," West Bengal CEO said. The final phase of polling concluded on April 29 with turnout touching around 90 percent. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, with security tightened at strong rooms in Howrah.