Kolkata: West Bengal’s second and final phase of Assembly polling was held on Tuesday, amid a tight contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.
The BJP alleged that in Balda Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, the button corresponding to its lotus symbol on the electronic voting machine (EVM) was covered with tape at polling station No. 144. A video related to the allegation circulated on social media, triggering a political row.
Similar claims were also reported from polling stations No. 170 and 189 in the same constituency. In Balda, TMC candidate Jahangir Khan is contesting against BJP’s Debangshu Panda.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya accused the TMC of attempting to prevent voters from choosing the BJP and demanded immediate re-voting in the affected booths.
The Election Commission, in its preliminary inquiry, confirmed that tape had been found on the EVMs and has sought explanations from the concerned polling officials. West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal said that if buttons are found to have been damaged or concealed, action will be taken without bias and re-polling will be conducted.
