West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: EC orders repolling at 15 stations on May 2
Repolling was announced after the BJP claimed that EVM buttons were found taped and tampered with in Falta, which falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat, considered a stronghold of TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.
Election Commission has ordered repolling in 15 polling stations of West Bengal. File image
The Election Commission on Friday ordered repolling at a total of 15 polling stations in West Bengal on May 2 as the heat between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensifies in the state. According to initial information, repolling will be held at 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency (AC) and four in the Diamond Harbour AC on May 2.
Repolling was announced after the BJP claimed that EVM buttons were found taped and tampered with in Falta, which falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat, considered a stronghold of TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.
On Thursday, EC received 77 complaints of alleged EVM tampering during the second phase of polling. According to the complaints, the buttons on electronic voting machines were tampered with using black tape, adhesive substances, ink, and even perfume.
Some of the constituencies include Falta, Magrahat, Diamond Harbour, and Budge Budge, among others. While Falta accounted for 32 complaints, Diamond Harbour recorded 29 complaints, Magrahat accounted for 13 complaints, and Budge Budge reported 3 complaints.
EVM tampering allegations in Bengal
TMC also alleged an 'electoral fraud' by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission, claiming tampering of ballots ahead of the May 4 counting for the West Bengal assembly elections.
The party shared CCTV footage purportedly showing the interior of a room with ballots, the authenticity of which has not been independently verified by The Times of India. The EC, however, responding to the video footage, issued a clarification listing out the measures being taken to ensure fair vote counting.
BJP also responded to the allegation and said that TMC is spreading rumours and is deliberately creating a false narrative because they anticipated a poor performance in the assembly elections.
Bengal elections
West Bengal went to polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 4. Meanwhile, West Bengal recorded the highest-ever voter turnout since Independence, with an impressive 91.66 per cent polling in Phase 2 of the Assembly elections.
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