Voter turnout in West Bengal’s Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour reached nearly 56% as repolling commenced due to complaints of Electronic Voting Machine tampering.
West Bengal is witnessing significant electoral activity as repolling takes place in two Assembly constituencies, Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour. As of 1 PM, voter turnout has reached 54.6% in Diamond Harbour and 56.3% in Magrahat Paschim, following the Election Commission’s decision to conduct fresh voting at 15 polling booths due to allegations of irregularities.
The repolling began at 7 AM on Saturday in the South 24 Parganas district, specifically targeting 15 polling stations—11 in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour. This action was prompted by complaints regarding Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering that surfaced during the second phase of polling earlier in the week.
A senior official from the Election Commission in Kolkata confirmed the details, stating, “Repolls have been ordered in 11 polling stations in the Magrahat Paschim Assembly seat and four polling stations in the Diamond Harbour Assembly constituency. We are still awaiting reports regarding the complaints from the Falta Assembly seat.”
The Election Commission of India has received at least 77 complaints related to EVM tampering during the recent elections. Reports indicated that in some instances, buttons on the machines were obstructed with adhesive tape or marked with ink, which hindered voters from selecting specific candidates. Additionally, there were claims that attar was applied to the buttons to identify voters based on scent.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a wider repoll, alleging that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) was involved in the tampering. This demand was made following statements from BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, who claimed that voters were prevented from casting ballots for BJP candidates at several booths in the Falta area, which is part of the Diamond Harbour constituency.
On polling day, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal emphasized that any polling booth found with tampered EVM buttons would be subject to repolling. This warning came in response to the BJP’s concerns about irregularities in the Falta region.
As the situation unfolds, the Election Commission continues to monitor the repolling process closely, ensuring that the integrity of the electoral process is maintained. The outcome of this repolling could have significant implications for the political landscape in West Bengal as the state approaches the 2026 elections.
According to The Sunday Guardian, the developments in these constituencies reflect ongoing tensions and challenges within the electoral framework of West Bengal.