The Election Commission of India has ordered repolling in 15 polling stations across West Bengal following complaints during the second phase of Assembly elections held on April 29. The fresh voting will take place on May 2 between 7 am and 6 pm, based on reports submitted by the state's poll machinery.
According to officials, 11 of the affected polling stations are located in the Magarhat Paschim Assembly constituency, while four fall under Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district. The poll body is also awaiting a detailed report on alleged irregularities from the Falta constituency, where a significant number of complaints were received.
According to the West Bengal CEO, the polling stations that will see repolling in the Magrahat Paschim Assembly constituency include:
46 Uttar Yearpur F.P. School (Room 2)
126 Najra F.P. School (Room 1)
127 Najra F.P. School (Room 2)
128 Deula F.P. School (Room 1)
142 Ghola Noyapara Girls' High Madrasha (Room 2)
214 Ektara Malaya F.P. School (Room 1)
215 Ektara Malaya F.P. School (Room 2)
216 Ektara Malaya Dhora F.P. School (Room 1)
230 Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P. School (Room 1)
231 Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P. School (Room 1)
232 Bahirpuya Kurkuriya F.P. School (Room 1)
Polling stations going for repoll in the Diamond Harbour Assembly constituency include:
117 Bagda Junior High School
179 Chanda F.P. School (Room No. 2)
194 Haridevpur F.P. School
243 Roynagar F.P. School (Room No. 2)
This marks the first instance of repolling in the Assembly elections being conducted across multiple states, including Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Notably, no repoll had been recommended after the first phase of polling in West Bengal, which was held on April 23.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal had indicated that repolling could be required at two to three locations in South 24 Parganas, though he had stressed that a final decision would depend on the observer's report.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday directed the general observers for all the 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal to be present at the respective counting centres and counting halls before the counting of votes at 8 am on May 4, and remain there till the counting is completed and the winning certificates are handed over to the elected candidates.
An insider from the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that the Commission has also decided to make the general observers accountable for any disturbance or irregularities in the counting process.
"The general observers have been asked to give regular updates about the proceedings of the counting process to the central control room at the CEO's office in Kolkata and the district-level control rooms at the offices of the District Magistrates, also known as the district electoral officers concerned," the CEO's office insider added.
Meanwhile, the ECI has already directed several steps to prevent violence or misappropriation on and after the counting day.
"So far, it has been decided that 200 companies of central armed police forces (CAPFs) personnel will be deployed for security at the innermost circles of the counting stations, which are the counting rooms. Apart from that, there will be two other layers of security, one within the counting centres and the other outside the counting centres," the CEO's office insider said.
A controversy has erupted in West Bengal over strongroom CCTV footage.
— Ravi Prakash Official (@raviprakash_rtv) May 1, 2026
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that the Election Commission of India acted in favour of the BJP and raised concerns about the handling of the strongroom. The Election Commission has strongly denied… pic.twitter.com/wbayX9B84l
This time, the number of counting centres has been reduced to 77 in order to ensure better security concentration.
Entry to counting centres by authorised electoral officers and staff, political party agents and candidates will require a three-stage verification process. Identity cards will be verified in three stages — in the first and second stages manually, and in the third stage through QR code verification.
At the same time, to prevent the possibility of post-poll violence, as seen after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls, the ECI has decided to retain 700 companies of CAPF in the state till further orders.
