Repolling in 15 West Bengal booths after EVM tampering claims – full list | India News
New Delhi: The Election Commission has ordered re-polling in 15 polling stations across two constituencies in West Bengal after 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 West and four booths in Diamond Harbour.The election body said the decision was taken on the basis of the report of the returning officer and election observers, declaring the earlier polls at these booths void as per the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Authorities have been directed to ensure wide publicity for the re-poll, including informing candidates and local voters.“I am directed that on the basis of the report received from the Returning Officer and Observers of 142-Magrahat West AC and 143-Diamond Harbor AC regarding the polls taken for the General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2026 held on April 29, 2026 and the Commission after considering all the material herein, declared under the Commission. (2) of Section 58 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 that the votes taken for the aforesaid election on 29th April, 2026 at the following polling stations (mentioned in column 3 of the table below) shall be canceled and assigned to 2nd May, 2026 and the time of polling shall be fixed for Western Time,” wrote the Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal in the order.“I would also like to say that there should be as much publicity as possible by drumming in the polling areas and the contesting candidates should be informed in writing about taking fresh polls on that date,” the election body said.The decision was taken following allegations of irregularities during the polls, particularly in some parts of the Diamond Harbour’s Falta section West Bengal BJP co-in-charge Amit Malviya claimed that voters were prevented from selecting party options at certain booths, alleging that EVM buttons were covered with tape.
List of booths where re-polling will take place
Magrahat West (11 booths)
- 46 – North Yarpur FP School, Room No.2
- 126 – Nazra FP School, Room No.1
- 127 – Nazra FP School, Room No.2
- 128 – Deula FP School, Room No.1
- 142 – Ghola Nayapara Girls High Madrasa, Room No.2
- 214 – Ektara Malaya FP School, Room No.1
- 215 – Ektara Malaya FP School, Room No.2
- 216 – Ektara Malaya Dhora FP School, Room No.1
- 230 – Bahirpua Kurkuria FP School, Room No.1
- 231 – Bahirpua Kurkuria FP School, Room No.2
- 232 – Bahirpua Kurkuria FP School, Room No.3
Diamond Harbor (4 booths)
- 117 – Bagda Junior High School
- 179 – Chandra FP School, Room No.2
- 194 – Haridebpur FP School
- 243 – Raynagar FP School, Room No.2
In a post on X, Malviya wrote, “This is what Mamata Banerjee defended when she spoke for criminal Jahangir Khan, who contested on a TMC ticket from Diamond Harbour’s Falta. In several polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked using a tape, effectively preventing voters from exercising their choice of ‘mode Harbour’. The template that Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek helped Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat“Earlier, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Aggarwal had said that such complaints would be scrutinized and action would be taken.“If any report of button tapping is found, it should be verified and noted. If true, those booths will go for re-polling,” said the West Bengal CEO.Polling in the final phase ended on April 29, touching nearly 90 percent. Counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4 with security tightened in Howrah’s strongroom.
