Repolling in Falta Assembly seat in West Bengal on May 21

KOLKATA: The Election Commission has ordered repolling in all polling booths in West Bengal's Falta assembly constituency after serious irregularities were found in the polling held on April 29. The Election Commission said that irregularities were reported in several polling stations and hence it has been decided to cancel the earlier polling and conduct fresh polling in all the booths.

Fresh polling will be held in all 285 polling stations, including auxiliary booths, in the constituency. The fresh polling will be held between 7 am and 6 pm on May 21. The counting of votes will be held on May 24, said election commission.

The repolling in Bengal had crossed 90 percent the previous day. The repolling was carried out after irregularities, including covering of EVMs with tape, were found. The repolling was carried out in 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district and four in Diamond Harbour. The polling had crossed 90 percent in the first two phases. Meanwhile, widespread incidents of violence were reported yesterday as well.

Meantime, the Trinamool Congress is intensifying its allegations that the strong rooms are not safe. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee met the party's counting agents yesterday. They were instructed to remain in the counting centres until the counting is over. If any irregularities are found, they should contact the leadership immediately. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has appointed 165 more people as counting observers in the state. 77 police observers have also been deployed to maintain law and order at the counting centres.