KOLKATA, MAY 1 – Two days before the counting of votes in the West Bengal assembly elections, repolling was held at 15 polling stations in the state after complaints of irregularities were received.
The repolling was ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday evening after a team of officials from the EC visited the 15 polling stations in the state’s Barasat district. The polling stations, which had held voting on April 29 as part of the second phase of the assembly elections, were found to be short-staffed and lacked adequate security measures.
According to sources, a group of voters had complained about irregularities at several polling stations in the area, including allegations that some booths were not properly covered with canopy or awnings, which could affect the voting experience for women and senior citizens. There were also reports of some booths not having adequate number of ballot papers or EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines).
The EC team, which included officials from the Central Election Commission and other state agencies, visited the polling stations and found that while most of them had been set up properly, there were a few instances where irregularities had been reported. The team took note of these complaints and ordered repolling at 15 polling stations.
The repolling process began early on Tuesday morning, with officials from various agencies arriving at the polling stations to ensure that everything was in order. The voting process was smooth and peaceful, with all voters being allowed to cast their ballots without any issues.
The decision to hold repolling at these 15 polling stations has been seen as a positive development by many, who feel that it will help to restore trust in the electoral process. “This is a good move by the Election Commission,” said one voter. “We want to ensure that our votes are counted fairly and without any irregularities.”
The West Bengal assembly elections have been fiercely contested, with all major political parties participating in the fray. The ruling Trinamool Congress party has been facing stiff opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other regional parties.
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