All eyes on Magrahat West and Diamond Harbour; Re-polling begins in 15 booths in West Bengal

KOLKATA: Re-polling started in two assembly constituencies in West Bengal. Re-polling is being done in 11 booths in Magrahat West and four booths in Diamond Harbour. The polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm today. The polling was declared void due to irregularities during the elections held on April 29. Therefore, the Election Commission had earlier announced that the voters will be allowed to exercise their power again in these 15 booths on May 2.

The Election Commission declared the polls in these booths null and void on April 29, following reports from the returning officers and election observers. The polls were declared null and void under Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Bengal Chief Electoral Officer had directed that the re-poll be announced by a notice and that the contesting candidates be informed in writing.

The BJP alleged that the buttons of BJP and CPM candidates were covered with tape in the voting machines at the booths in the Falta constituency in Diamond Harbour. The visuals of this were also released. The BJP had complained of widespread irregularities in the areas under the influence of Trinamool Congress's Jahangir Khan. Following the complaint, polling was temporarily suspended in some areas of Falta. The Election Commission, which had ordered an investigation, had also announced that repolling would be conducted if evidence of tampering was found.