The counting of votes in the Assembly elections in West Bengal is scheduled to take place on May 4 (Monday) by the Election Commission of India.
Bengal’s 294 constituencies voted in two stages to elect its government on April 23 and 29, with the EC saying voter turnout of 92.47 percent was the highest in the state since independence.
However, vote counting will take place in 293 seats, with the results for one seat now postponed. This is due to the re-poll ordered by the Independent Electoral Commission in the Valta constituency on 21 May.
Why did the Election Commission order a re-polling?
On Saturday, the polling body ordered a re-run of polls in Valta due to serious electoral irregularities and subversion of the democratic process during the vote held on April 29 in the second phase of the assembly elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission said voting will be held in Valta at all booths, including auxiliary polling stations, on May 21 between 7am and 6pm. The seat results will be announced on May 24.
Meanwhile, massive protests were reported from Valta, with locals claiming that they are receiving threats from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadre.
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Videos published by news agency ANI showed local residents getting into a heated argument with police personnel. Protesters also expressed concerns about their safety, and demanded action against the alleged officials. “Israfil Chowkidar of the TMC threatened us that if these people win, they will burn our homes and shed blood,” one of them claimed.
Another woman claimed that she was attacked despite voting for the ruling party in the state. The agency quoted the woman as saying: “We voted for the Transitional Military Council, but they attacked us… We want him arrested. We need safety for women.”
The re-poll was conducted at Diamond Harbour, Majarrat Paschim
Re-polls were also held on Saturday at 15 polling stations in Diamond Harbor and Majrat Paschim in South 24 Parganas. The Election Commission declared voting at the affected booths invalid based on reports from returning officials and observers. Voter turnout during re-polls on Saturday was about 87 percent, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.
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The poll body received at least 77 complaints related to tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the second phase of elections in West Bengal. In some cases, political party buttons were also covered with tape or darkened with ink, thus preventing voters from casting their ballots, officials said.
