Repolls in multiple booths of West Bengal are likely, a senior official of the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Thursday.
According to the official, the repolling is likely to be ordered in at least 23 polling stations in West Bengal following complaints of electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering.
Around 77 complaints have been received by the ECI, many of them alleging that EVMs were interfered with using black tape stickers. Of these, the highest number ~ 32 were in Falta, followed by 29 from Diamond Harbour, 13 from Bablahat, and three from Budge Budge, the official added.
Of these, at least 23 cases have so far been verified as genuine, while scrutiny of the remaining complaints is ongoing. If repolling is confirmed, it will have to be done by 2 May, the ECI official said.
“The sanctity of the EVMs appears to have been compromised in these instances,” the official said.
According to sources, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal has directed Special Poll Observer Subrata Gupta to investigate all reported irregularities and initiate action on the ground.
“We want absolutely free and fair elections. Prima facie, 23 of the complaints have been verified and appear to be true. We will take appropriate action,” said Agarwal.
Notably, no complaints of EVM tampering were reported during the first phase of polling, which concluded on 23 April.
All the complaints of EVM tampering were received on 29 April during the second phase of the West Bengal elections.
The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on 4 May.