The Election Commission of India ordered repolling at 15 polling booths in West Bengal for May 2 [1], [4].
The decision follows reports of voting irregularities during the second phase of the Assembly elections. Ensuring the integrity of the vote is critical in high-stakes regional contests where small margins can determine the outcome of a seat.
Of the affected sites, 11 booths are located in the Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency and four are in the Diamond Harbour Assembly constituency [2], [3]. Both areas are situated within the South 24 Parganas district [5].
Officials said reports from Returning Officers and poll observers were the basis for the order. These reports included complaints regarding an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tape-row [6], [7].
"Based on reports received from the concerned Returning Officers and the Observers of 142‑Magrahat Paschim AC and 143‑Diamond Harbour AC regarding poll taken ..." an Election Commission spokesperson said [8].
The repolling will take place tomorrow, May 2, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. [4], [9]. This corrective measure aims to resolve the discrepancies reported during the initial voting phase before final results are processed.
Returning officers are tasked with managing the fresh vote to prevent further disruptions. The commission said there is a need for strict adherence to protocol to maintain public confidence in the electoral process [6].
“The repolling will be held on May 2 between 7 am and 6 pm.”
The order for repolling highlights the ongoing challenges of managing large-scale elections in West Bengal, where technical glitches or procedural irregularities often lead to legal and political disputes. By intervening quickly after the second phase, the ECI is attempting to preempt challenges to the legitimacy of the final results in the South 24 Parganas district.
