Repolling begins in 15 booths in West Bengal after EVM tampering complaints

Repolling began in 15 booths in West Bengal after the Election Commission received 77 complaints of EVM tampering. The move followed concerns over the credibility of voting at the affected stations.

In Short

• Election Commission ordered fresh voting after EVM tampering allegations
• 77 complaints reported; Falta recorded highest, followed by Diamond Harbour
• BJP alleged taped EVM buttons obstructed voter choice during polling

Repolling has commenced in 15 polling stations across two Assembly segments in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district after allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering triggered political controversy. The fresh voting exercise, ordered by the Election Commission of India, is being conducted in booths located in the Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim seats. A decision on repolling in Falta is awaited.

Voting will continue from 7 am to 6 pm, covering 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour constituency.

During the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections on April 29, the poll panel received 77 complaints of EVM tampering. The complaints alleged that buttons on electronic voting machines (EVMs) were marked with black tape, adhesive substances, ink, and even perfume.

Falta saw the highest number of complaints with 32 complaints, followed by Diamond Harbour with 29, Magrahat with 13, and Budge Budge with just three. Taking a note, the Election Commission on Friday ordered repolls.

The controversy first surfaced in Falta, part of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, an area politically associated with TMC General Secretary and party heavyweight Abhishek Banerjee.

According to the BJP, such tampering obstructed voters' ability to select candidates, raising concerns about the integrity of the voting process.

Voters and political representatives submitted formal complaints citing multiple irregularities, including alleged EVM interference, booth capturing, and attempts at rigging.

Reports suggested that in several instances, tape was placed near or over the names and symbols of BJP and CPI(M) candidates on the EVM panels, potentially obscuring them from voters.

Videos circulated by BJP leaders further amplified these claims, intensifying the political standoff during the polling phase.

BOOTHS IN FALTA UNDER REVIEW

Sources have also indicated that the controversy may not be limited to these 15 booths. Around 30 additional polling stations in the Falta constituency are currently under review, and a final decision on whether repolling will be extended to those locations is still pending with the Election Commission.

Originally, voting at the affected booths took place on April 29 as part of the second and final phase of the state’s Assembly elections.

However, after reviewing complaints and preliminary findings, the Commission invoked Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, declaring the earlier polling invalid.

This legal provision empowers the poll body to cancel votes and order fresh polling if serious irregularities—such as violence, equipment malfunction, or procedural violations—are found to have compromised the fairness of the election.

The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Agarwal, had earlier emphasised that the Commission maintains a strict "zero tolerance" stance toward electoral malpractice.

He stated that repolling decisions are based on detailed assessments of reports submitted by district officials and election observers.

While initial checks did not find evidence of tampering during the preparation or mock poll stages, authorities suspect that any alleged interference may have occurred during actual voting hours.

Election guidelines clearly categorise the placement of foreign objects—such as tape, ink, or other substances—on EVM buttons as a serious offence, as it can interfere with the voting process and potentially mislead voters.

Despite the controversies, voter participation in the West Bengal election has been notably high. Across the two phases, West Bengal recorded an overall turnout of 92.93 percent, marking the highest participation since Independence.

The first phase on April 23 saw a turnout of 93.19 percent, while the second phase registered 92.67 percent, reflecting strong public engagement even amid allegations and unrest.

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