West Bengal Repoll Today: EC Orders Re-Election at 15 Booths in Magrahat Paschim & Diamond Harbour on May 2

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered West Bengal repoll at 15 polling stations in South 24 Parganas district today, Saturday, May 2. Polling will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM in the affected booths of 142-Magrahat Paschim and 143-Diamond Harbour assembly constituencies.

This is the first instance of repolling in the ongoing assembly elections across West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. No repoll was ordered after the first phase on April 23.

Booths Where West Bengal Repoll Has Been Ordered

Magrahat Paschim (11 booths):

46 – Uttar Yearpur F.P. School, Room No. 2
126 – Najra F.P. School, Room No. 1
127 – Najra F.P. School, Room No. 2
128 – Deula F.P. School, Room No. 1
142 – Ghola Noyapara Girls’ High Madrasha, Room No. 2
214 – Ektara Malaya F.P. School, Room No. 1
215 – Ektara Malaya F.P. School, Room No. 2
216 – Ektara Malaya Dhora F.P. School, Room No. 1
230 – Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P. School, Room No. 1
231 – Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P. School, Room No. 2
232 – Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P. School, Room No. 3

Diamond Harbour (4 booths):

117 – Bagda Junior High School
179 – Chanda F.P. School, Room No. 2
194 – Haridevpur F.P. School
243 – Roynagar F.P. School (Room No. 2)

The polls at these booths, originally held on April 29 during the second phase, have been declared void under Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The decision was taken based on reports submitted by Returning Officers (ROs) and Observers.

Reports indicate complaints of EVM buttons being allegedly marked with black tape, adhesive substances, ink, and even perfume in constituencies including Falta, Magrahat, Diamond Harbour, and Budge Budge. A report from Falta constituency is still awaited, and it remains unclear whether repolling will be ordered at the remaining booths.

BJP Reaction on West Bengal Repoll

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the Election Commission’s decision but demanded repolling at many more booths.

“Repolling should have been conducted in more booths. At present, it is limited to only a few booths, whereas in the Falta segment alone, it should have been held in at least 60 booths… We respect the Election Commission fully,” Adhikari said.

This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the electoral process in South 24 Parganas during the West Bengal Assembly Elections.