EVM Chaos? 77 Booths Under Fire in Bengal Polls, Repoll Demands Explode”
A day after the second phase of polling in the West Bengal Assembly Elections, demands for repolling have emerged from 77 booths, all located in South 24 Parganas district.
According to sources within the Election Commission of India, an urgent meeting is scheduled to review the complaints and determine whether repolling is necessary. If approved, fresh polling in affected booths could be conducted as early as May 1.
The highest number of complaints came from Falta (32), followed by Diamond Harbour (29), Magrahat (13), and Budge Budge (3). Allegations raised include EVM machines being sealed with tape, spraying of perfume on devices, and attempts to block surveillance cameras using cloth — raising serious concerns about the integrity of the voting process.
In a separate development, a complaint from Magrahat West alleged that a voter carried a spy camera hidden in a shirt pocket, possibly to monitor voting choices. The Election Commission has sought a detailed report and stated that strict action will be taken if the claim is verified.
Interestingly, no repoll demands were reported during the first phase of polling held on April 23, which covered over 44,000 booths across 152 constituencies. The sudden surge in complaints during Phase 2, concentrated in a single district, has drawn significant attention.
Officials also noted that police observer Ajay Pal Sharma was actively monitoring the situation in the region during polling. The final decision of the Election Commission is now awaited.
