West Bengal election: South 24 Parganas re-polling ends, voter turnout nears 87%

Re-polling across 15 polling booths in two Assembly constituencies of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal concluded peacefully at 6 pm on Saturday, with no reports of violence, disruption or poll-related tension. The exercise was conducted under tight security cover of central forces, assisted by state police personnel.
According to figures from the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, the average voter turnout stood at 86.90 per cent till 5 pm across all 15 booths. Magrahat (Paschim) recorded 86.11 per cent turnout across 11 booths, while Diamond Harbour registered 87.60 per cent across four booths during the same period.
Officials indicated that the final polling percentage will be confirmed after tabulation, likely later on Saturday or Sunday morning, with expectations that the overall figure may cross 90 per cent. The re-polling was conducted in booths across Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour constituencies as part of the electoral process ahead of counting scheduled for May 4.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has announced that all its assembly candidates will visit temples in their respective constituencies on Sunday to offer prayers. The party also said that women supporters will stage sit-in protests outside strong rooms across all assembly constituencies, as part of its activities ahead of the counting process.

Repolling in West Bengal witnessed a sharp rise in voter turnout by the evening, with Magrahat Paschim recording 86.11 per cent polling and Diamond Harbour reaching 87.60 per cent till 5 pm. The high participation reflects steady voter engagement during the repoll process across the affected constituencies.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday expressed strong confidence that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will secure a decisive victory in the ongoing Assembly elections, claiming the party will win over 200 seats. Addressing party cadres and counting agents via video conferencing, she dismissed exit poll projections as attempts to “manipulate the stock market,” asserting that similar trends were seen in previous elections. She also alleged that Central Armed Police Forces committed excesses against TMC workers and said the party would recognise those affected. Her remarks come amid ongoing repolling in parts of South 24 Parganas, where voter turnout has crossed 72 per cent, and heightened political tensions ahead of counting scheduled for May 4.

The Election Commission is set to take a decision tonight on whether repolling will be conducted in parts of the Falta assembly constituency, following reports of multiple issues during voting. Officials said observers have submitted detailed reports on the irregularities, and a final call will be made ahead of counting scheduled tomorrow.

Repolling in West Bengal saw a strong voter response, with over 72 per cent turnout recorded in both Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour assembly constituencies till 3 pm. According to official figures, Magrahat Paschim reported an approximate turnout of 72.50 per cent, while Diamond Harbour recorded 72.36 per cent, indicating steady participation during the repoll process.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed in Falta, West Bengal, following protests by residents over alleged threats by Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadre. The deployment aims to maintain law and order and prevent any escalation of tension in the area, with authorities keeping a close watch to ensure a peaceful situation.
 

Magrahat Paschim records 56.33%, Diamond Harbour 54.9% turnout till 1 pm

Nearly 37 per cent turnout was recorded till 11 am in repoll in 15 booths of two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, an official said.

Till 11 am, 38.2% approximate voter turnout recorded in Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and 35.92% in Diamond Harbour assembly constituency

Over 16 per cent turnout was recorded in the first two hours of voting during repoll in 15 booths of two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, an official said.

Repolling in one of the polling booths in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district was halted for over an hour on Saturday morning after an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctioned.

Various electors had to wait in the queue for over an hour amid the malfunction as repolling started early morning at 7 AM across 15 polling booths in the Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim assembly constituencies.

As of 9 am, voter turnout stood at 15.85% in Diamond Harbour and 16.68% in Magrahat Paschim.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual meeting with all counting agents of the party on Saturday afternoon, two days ahead of the counting of votes polled in the assembly elections, a senior party leader said.

The meeting, scheduled for 4 pm, will be attended by the counting agents from the 291 Assembly constituencies, where the ruling party fielded its candidates.

Voters in Diamond Harbour constituency in West Bengal acknowledged the irregularities with polling on April 29, and stated that re-polling held on Saturday was "fine."

After voting at booth number 117, in Diamond Harbour constituency, a voter told ANI, "It was fine earlier too, it is fine now as well. Such things (re-polling) keep happening. There is no problem."

Another voter at the booth stated, "The machine was malfunctioning the last time. It is fine in the re-polling."