KOLKATA, May 1 The Election Commission on Friday ordered repoll in 15 polling stations of two Assembly constituencies in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, to be held on May 2, following reports of electoral malpractices.
The repolls were ordered in 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour.
Voting will be held between 7 am and 6 pm, the EC order said.
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Polling in these two Assembly constituencies was held in the second phase of the state election on April 29.
The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and “material circumstances”.
The BJP had alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations of both the Assembly seats under the Dimanod Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The EC had deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations from the ground.
“BJP knows it will be defeated by a big margin in Diamond Harbour and Margahat, and that is why they are demanding a repoll in these places. With the EC’s assistance, the BJP is forcing people of these areas to go through the rigours of the voting process yet again. The mandate is against the BJP, and it will remain the same,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
On the other hand, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, “There had been malpractices in several booths in these areas to favour the TMC. We are happy with the repoll decision of the EC.” (PTI)
