Repolling was conducted under tight security at 15 polling stations in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas on Saturday. While 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour went to repolls, the Election Commission is yet to decide on a similar exercise in Falta, where the highest number of complaints were reported.
“Repolls were held in a very peaceful manner. Till 1 pm, the voters’ turnout in Magrahat Paschim was 56.3% and in Diamond Harbour it was 54.9%,” said an EC official in Kolkata.
The poll panel received at least 77 complaints related to EVM tampering from four assembly constituencies on the voting day. Of these, the highest number of complaints came from Falta with 32, followed by 29 in Diamond Harbour, 13 in Magrahat Paschim and three in Budge Budge.
“The decision related to repolls in Falta is likely to be taken on Saturday,” said a second EC official.
Elections were held in 152 seats in the first phase on April 23, with no repolling ordered. The remaining 142 assembly seats across eight districts, including South 24 Parganas, where repolls were held on Saturday, went to polls in the second phase on April 29.
Meanwhile, protests broke out over allegations of post-poll threats and demands for repolling.
BJP workers staged protests at Hasimnagar village in Falta, alleging that they were being threatened by TMC-backed goons.
Protests were also held on Friday. Police and CAF rushed to the spot to ease the tension as the protesters tried to block National Highway 117.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, “There should be repolls in at least 60 polling stations in the four assembly seats.”
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “The BJP knows very well that it is going to lose the elections in these constituencies. Hence, they are demanding repolls. They are just harassing the people. Voters would again have to stand in the queue and cast their vote. BJP would lose anyway.”
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