Repolling is currently underway at 15 polling booths in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the measure following reports of alleged Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering during the second phase of polling conducted on April 29.
ECI Directs Targeted Repolling
The Commission has scheduled the repolling to capture place from 7 am to 6 pm today. According to the ECI, the order was based on inputs received from the state poll machinery, as detailed in a letter sent to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal.
The affected sites are split between two areas: 11 booths in the Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency and four booths in the Diamond Harbour Assembly constituency.
Allegations of Irregularities
The repolling follows claims made by Amit Malviya, the BJP’s co-incharge of West Bengal. Malviya alleged that voters in Falta, located under the Diamond Harbour constituency, were prevented from selecting the party candidate during the second phase of the elections.
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal addressed the irregularities in Falta on the day of polling. Agarwal stated that any booth where reports of the taping of an EVM button were verified and noted would undergo a repoll.
Affected Polling Booths
In Magrahat Paschim, repolling is occurring at the following locations:
- 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
In Diamond Harbour, the booths going to polls again include:
- 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
Next Steps and Security
Security arrangements have been established at strong rooms in Howrah to protect the ballots. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
The outcome of these 15 booths may be factored into the final results, which could be influenced by the validity of the repolled votes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was repolling ordered in South 24 Parganas?
The Election Commission of India ordered repolling after reports of alleged Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering during the second phase of polling on April 29.
Which constituencies are affected by the repoll?
Repolling is being conducted at 11 booths in the Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency and four booths in the Diamond Harbour Assembly constituency.
When will the final election results be determined?
The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
How do you think targeted repolling affects the overall confidence in an election’s outcome?
