Bengal Votes Again in 15 Booths, Falta Call Still Pending

The Election Commission of India has ordered repolling in 15 polling stations across the Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The repoll will take place on Saturday from 7 am to 6 pm, covering 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour. This decision follows serious allegations of irregularities during the second and final phase of polling held on April 29. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that buttons on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were tampered with using tape in parts of Falta, potentially preventing voters from selecting certain candidates. Complaints were also raised about booth capturing, voter intimidation, and disruptions in the voting process. Falta, which falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, is considered a stronghold of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led in the region by senior leader Abhishek Banerjee. The controversy intensified after videos circulated online allegedly showing tape placed near the names of BJP and CPM candidates on EVM panels. The Election Commission invoked provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to declare the affected polling stations void and order fresh voting. This law allows repolling if serious irregularities—such as EVM malfunction, violence, or procedural violations—compromise the fairness of elections. Authorities have also indicated that up to 30 additional booths in Falta may undergo repolling, with a final decision still pending based on detailed reports from election officials and observers. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal emphasized a “zero tolerance” policy toward electoral malpractice, stating that strict action would follow if violations are confirmed. Initial findings suggest that the alleged tampering may have occurred during voting hours rather than during pre-poll preparations. Despite the controversy, voter turnout in the West Bengal Assembly elections reached a record 92.93%, reflecting strong public participation across both phases.