Repolling ordered in West Bengal's Falta over EVM button taping allegations

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered a repoll in several polling booths within the Falta Assembly constituency of West Bengal, following serious allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering during the ongoing elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of deliberately obstructing voters by taping over the BJP's symbol and candidate options on the EVMs. This alleged malpractice has been termed the "Diamond Harbour Model" by the BJP's IT cell head, Amit Malviya, who claimed it was a tactic previously employed to help TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee win his Lok Sabha seat. Reports emerged on April 29, 2026, detailing how BJP leaders shared videos on social media allegedly showing tape placed next to the BJP and also the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) candidates' names on EVMs in Falta, South 24 Parganas district. According to the BJP candidate from Falta, Debangshu Panda, the EVM buttons corresponding to his party's symbol were jammed or obstructed in several booths, preventing voters from casting their votes in favour of the BJP. Similar concerns were raised regarding the CPM candidate's visibility on the EVMs. The CPM has not yet issued a formal statement on the matter. The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Kumar Agarwal, confirmed the receipt of these serious allegations and stated that the ECI would order a repoll in any booth where tampering is verified. He emphasized a "zero tolerance" policy towards such irregularities and warned that if systemic tampering was confirmed, a repoll could be extended to the entire constituency. The ECI's decision to order repolls in affected booths aligns with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which allows for repolls in cases of electoral malpractices that could affect the outcome of the poll. Specific booths, including booth numbers 144, 170, and 189, were mentioned in connection with these allegations. The incident occurred in Falta, a constituency within the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat, which has been a focal point of political tensions. Notably, Falta has been under heightened surveillance due to a prior confrontation between an ECI-appointed police observer, Ajay Pal Sharma, and the TMC candidate, Jahangir Khan, an aide to Abhishek Banerjee. Sharma had issued a warning to Khan and his family against disrupting the voting process on the eve of polling. The TMC has denied the BJP's allegations, attributing the issues to potential failures of the Election Commission and the police observer. They have also suggested that the BJP is making false claims out of desperation due to anticipated electoral losses in the state. The Election Commission has been actively working to ensure free and fair elections, with guidelines issued to presiding officers to ensure EVM buttons are clearly visible and not tampered with. The ECI regularly reviews electoral processes and maintains transparency through various means, including sharing details with political parties. This incident underscores the heightened political contest in West Bengal and the vigilance required to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. The ECI's swift action in ordering repolls, pending verification, demonstrates its commitment to addressing allegations of malpractices and upholding democratic principles. The investigation into the extent of the alleged tampering and the subsequent repolling will be closely watched.

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