15 polling stations across West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district are witnessing repolling today, marking a crucial intervention by the Election Commission (EC) to uphold electoral integrity during the ongoing Assembly elections. The decision follows multiple complaints of irregularities reported during the second phase of polling held on April 29.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, covering 11 polling stations in the Magarhat Paschim Assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour. The EC’s move comes after careful scrutiny of reports submitted by returning officers, observers, and what it termed “material circumstances” that warranted fresh polling.
The poll body reportedly received a significant number of complaints—29 from Diamond Harbour and 13 from Magarhat—raising concerns over issues such as electronic voting machine (EVM) malfunction, alleged booth capturing, voter intimidation, and breaches in voting secrecy. Repolling, though not uncommon, is a serious corrective measure typically invoked when the sanctity of the electoral process is believed to have been compromised.
A decision regarding repolling in the Falta constituency, also under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha segment, is still pending. Officials indicated that a final call would be taken after reviewing the report from that assembly segment.
The repolling has intensified the political contest in the region, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) trading accusations.
The BJP has alleged widespread electoral malpractices in several booths within the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. In response to these claims, the EC deputed a special observer, Subrata Gupta, to assess the situation on the ground.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the repoll decision, asserting that irregularities had occurred to “favour” the TMC. On the other hand, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh dismissed the allegations, claiming the BJP’s demand for repolling stems from its anticipation of a significant electoral defeat. “The mandate is against the BJP, and it will remain the same,” he stated.
Despite the controversy, voter enthusiasm in West Bengal has reached unprecedented levels. The two-phase polling process recorded an overall turnout of around 92 percent—the highest in the state’s history. Phase 1 saw an impressive 93 percent turnout, while Phase 2 registered about 91 percent participation.
Notably, women voters played a decisive role, with their turnout slightly surpassing that of men in both phases. This marks a significant shift in electoral participation patterns and underscores the growing political engagement across demographics.
As repolling continues, exit poll predictions have added another layer of intrigue to the electoral landscape. Several pollsters suggest that the BJP could be on the verge of forming a government in West Bengal for the first time. Projections indicate the party may secure between 178 and 208 seats out of the 294-member Assembly, well above the majority mark of 148.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s TMC is projected to witness a steep decline, with estimates ranging between 85 and 110 seats—far below its 2021 tally of 215. Other projections, such as those by Today’s Chanakya, forecast around 192 seats for the BJP and approximately 100 for the TMC.
The repolling exercise in South 24 Parganas serves as a critical test of institutional accountability and electoral fairness. While political parties continue to clash over allegations and narratives, the Election Commission’s intervention highlights its role as a guardian of democratic processes. As voters return to the booths once again, the emphasis remains firmly on ensuring that every vote is cast freely, fairly, and transparently.
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