Peaceful Re-Polling Concludes in South 24 Parganas with High Voter Turnout
Kolkata, May 2026 : Re-polling across 15 booths in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal concluded peacefully on Saturday evening, with no reports of violence, disruption, or tension. The exercise, conducted under strict security arrangements involving central forces and state police, began at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.
The re-poll was held in two Assembly constituencies—Magrahat (Paschim) and Diamond Harbour—following directions from the Election Commission of India. Officials confirmed that the polling process remained smooth throughout the day, with voters turning out in large numbers.
According to data from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, the combined average voter turnout across the 15 booths stood at 86.90 per cent till 5 p.m. Among the constituencies, the 11 booths in Magrahat (Paschim) recorded an average turnout of 86.11 per cent, while the four booths in Diamond Harbour saw a slightly higher turnout of 87.60 per cent during the same period.
Election officials indicated that the final turnout figures would be confirmed after complete tabulation, expected either later on Saturday or by Sunday morning. However, insiders suggested that the overall turnout could exceed 90 per cent—an unusually high figure for re-polling exercises.
The booths where re-polling took place included numbers 46, 126, 127, 128, 142, 214, 215, 216, 230, 231, and 232 in Magrahat (Paschim), and 117, 179, 194, and 243 in Diamond Harbour. Enhanced security arrangements ensured orderly voting, with voters forming queues from early morning.
The high turnout reflects the broader trend seen in the recently concluded two-phase Assembly elections in the state, held on April 23 and April 29. These phases recorded an average turnout of around 93 per cent, marking one of the highest participation rates since India’s independence.
Historically, the previous national record for voter turnout in Assembly elections was set in Tripura in 2013, when polling reached 91.82 per cent. In West Bengal, a significant milestone was recorded in 2011, when high voter participation coincided with the end of the 34-year Left Front rule and the rise of the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.
The counting of votes for the current Assembly elections is scheduled for May 4, with results to be declared the same day. Exit polls have largely predicted a shift in power, suggesting the possible end of the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule and the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party as a major contender.
With peaceful re-polling completed and high voter participation recorded, all eyes are now on the counting day, which is expected to determine the political future of the state.
