Democracy taped shut; voting irregularities rock Bengal as  shocking visuals of taped EVMs surface 

KOLKATA: Widespread irregularities have been alleged during the second phase of voting in West Bengal. Significant complaints have emerged from the Falta constituency, which had already become a hotbed of controversy leading up to election day.

Allegations suggest that in several booths, the EVM button opposite the BJP symbol was tampered with to prevent it from being pressed. BJP leaders released footage purportedly showing the button for their candidate covered with adhesive tape. In some clips, buttons for both BJP and CPM candidates appeared to be obstructed.

While the CPM has yet to issue an official response, BJP candidate Debangshu Panda alleged that Trinamool (TMC) workers tampered with machines across various booths to disenfranchise opposition voters.
The West Bengal Election Commissioner confirmed that an investigation is underway. "If these allegations are found to be true, repolling will be conducted in the affected booths," the Commissioner stated. The constituency features a high-stakes contest between Jahangir Khan (TMC), Sambhu Nath Kurmi (Left Front), and Abdur Razzak Molla (Congress). According to official figures, the voter turnout in Bengal stood at 78.68% as of 3:00 PM.