The Election Commission of India on Saturday ordered re-polling at all 285 polling stations in West Bengal’s Valtha Assembly constituency, citing serious electoral irregularities and subversion of the democratic process during the polling held in the second and final phase on April 29.
The polling committee said that re-polling at all booths, including auxiliary polling stations, will be conducted between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on May 21.
The Valta re-poll votes are scheduled to be counted on May 24, while the remaining electoral constituencies are scheduled to be counted on May 4, Monday. The Assembly elections were held in two stages on April 23 and 29.
Re-polling was also conducted across 15 polling stations in Diamond Harbor and Mughrat Paschim with the EC declaring polling at the affected booths invalid based on reports from returning officials and observers.
During the day, massive protests were reported from Valta as locals claimed to have received threats from Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadre. Videos published by news agency ANI showed local residents scuffling with security personnel.
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The protesters included many women, and they also expressed concerns about their safety and demanded action against the alleged officials.
“The TMC’s Isravel Chowkidar threatened us that if these people win, they will burn our homes and shed blood.” Another woman alleged that although they voted for the ruling party, they were being targeted. The News Agency of Nigeria quoted a local woman as saying: “We voted for the TMC, but they attacked us… We want him arrested. We want safety for the women.”
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The Independent Electoral Commission received at least 77 complaints related to manipulation in the administration of e-voting during the second phase of the West Bengal elections.
In some cases, political party buttons on electronic voting machines were covered with tape or darkened with ink, preventing voters from casting ballots, officials said. In some cases, attars were placed on buttons so that anyone pressing them could be identified by rival parties.
