Re-polling Underway at 15 Booths in West Bengal Amid Tight Security, Heavy Voter Turnout

Kolkata, May 2026 : Re-polling commenced at 7 a.m. on Saturday across 15 polling booths in two Assembly constituencies of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, following directions from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The exercise is being conducted to ensure electoral integrity after irregularities were reported during the second phase of polling held on April 29.

Out of the 15 booths, 11 are located in the Magrahat (Paschim) constituency, while the remaining four fall under the Diamond Harbour constituency. Voting is being held at booths numbered 46, 126, 127, 128, 142, 214, 215, 216, 230, 231, and 232 in Magrahat (Paschim), and booths 117, 179, 194, and 243 in Diamond Harbour.

Polling is scheduled to continue until 6 p.m. However, officials have clarified that voters who are in queue at the closing hour will be allowed to cast their votes, ensuring that no eligible voter is left out of the process.

From the early hours of the morning, long queues of voters were seen outside polling stations, indicating strong participation and public enthusiasm. Authorities have deployed elaborate security arrangements, similar to those implemented during the earlier phases of polling on April 23 and April 29, to maintain law and order and facilitate smooth voting.

Sources from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, indicated that the ECI-appointed special poll observer for the state, Subrata Gupta, had recommended re-polling in an additional 30 booths in the Falta Assembly constituency, also located in the Diamond Harbour subdivision. However, the Commission has not yet taken a final decision on this recommendation.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the counting of votes, scheduled for May 4. Results will be declared the same day. To enhance security and streamline the process, the number of counting centres has been reduced to 77 this time.

Strict access control measures will be enforced at counting centres. Entry will be permitted only after a three-stage verification process involving identity checks. The first two stages will include manual verification of identity cards, while the final stage will involve QR code scanning to ensure authenticity.

In a bid to prevent any recurrence of post-poll violence, which was witnessed after the 2021 Assembly elections, the ECI has decided to retain 700 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the state until further notice.

The re-polling process, conducted under heightened security and administrative vigilance, is expected to reinforce public confidence in the electoral system and ensure a fair and transparent outcome.