Repolling begins at 15 booths across two West Bengal assembly constituencies after malpractice reports

Polling began on Saturday morning at 15 booths across two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district. The Election Commission ordered repolls in 11 polling stations in the Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour following reports of electoral malpractices.

Voting began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm.

According to an Election Commission official, the repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies, as well as “material circumstances.”

Both Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour constituencies went to the polls in the second phase of the elections on April 29.

These two seats fall under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

The BJP alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations in these constituencies, following which the Election Commission deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations on the ground.

In Magrahat Paschim, the 11 booths headling to polls on Saturday include Uttar Yearpur FP School Room No 2, Najra FP School Room No 1, Najra FP School Room No 2, Deula FP School Room No 1, Ghola Noyapara Girls' High Madrasha Room No 2, Ektara Malaya FP School Room No 1, Ektara Malaya FP School Room No 2, Ektara Malaya Dhora FP School Room No 1, Bahirpuya Kurkuriya FP School Room No 1, Bahirpuya Kurkuriya FP School Room No 2 and Bahirpuya Kurkuriya FP School Room No 3.

The four polling booths in Diamond Harbour are Bagda Junion High School, Chanda FP School, Room No. 2, Haridevpur FP School and Roynagar FP School Room No 2.

The West Bengal Assembly elections were held in two phases—April 23 and April 29—amid unprecedented security arrangements. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.