Amid repolling in several polling booths in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, State Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal has indicated that a similar measure could be taken in Falta, an assembly segment in South 24 Parganas where EVM symbols were allegedly covered with tape.
Speaking to reporters amid repolling in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat booths, CEO Agarwal said that a team of Election Commission observers has done the assessment and a decision will be taken based on their report.
“Repoll is only done based on the assessment of the poll which has taken place. Assessment was done by the State General Observer and the team there; they have sent a report. Let us see what the status is,” the Bengal CEO said.
He further stated that while discrepancies in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat were limited to certain booths, in Falta, a large number of booths were allegedly affected.
“The difference between other areas and Falta is – in Diamond Harbour, it (discrepancies) was found only in 4 places. In Magrahat, it was found in 11 places. But here, a large number of booths are there.
That is why, the EC has to take a decision based on the totality of the situation,” he added.
During the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, the BJP had alleged that its symbol on EVMs was taped in some Falta booths.
BJP leader Amit Malviya had also shared a purported video on X to prove the allegations.
“This is what Mamata Banerjee was defending when she spoke up for Jehangir Khan, a criminal contesting on a TMC ticket from Falta in Diamond Harbour,” Malviya said.
He had claimed that the same issue was found in several polling booths, where the option to vote for the BJP in the EVM machine was blocked.
Following the BJP’s complaint, the Bengal CEO had assured that repolling will be conducted in all polling stations where black or white tape has been found on EVMs.
He had also suggested that repolling could be ordered across the entire Assembly constituency if such incidents are reported in a large number of booths.