Kolkata, May 2 (IANS). The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday ordered re-election in all polling stations in Phalta assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas district. This order was given after serious violations of election rules were found during the second phase of voting on April 29.
Due to this, counting of votes will take place on May 4 on 293 assembly seats of West Bengal, which does not include Phalta. The Commission said that the entire voting on this seat on April 29 will be considered cancelled, and re-voting will be held on May 21.
In an official statement, the ECI said, “In view of the serious violations of electoral rules and cases of subverting the democratic process during voting at several polling booths in the 144-polling assembly seat of West Bengal on April 29, the Commission directs that re-voting be conducted at all 285 polling booths (including auxiliary polling booths). This re-voting will be held on May 21 from 7 am to 6 pm.” “
After re-voting, counting of votes on this seat will take place on May 24.
On Friday, the Commission had announced re-voting in 15 booths of two assembly seats in South 24 Parganas district – Diamond Harbor and Magrahat (West). Re-voting took place at these booths on Saturday.
Phathala was in the news even before the second phase of voting. This led to a confrontation between Special Police Observer Ajay Pal Sharma (IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre) appointed by the Election Commission and Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan.
On the day of voting, allegations of EVM tampering had surfaced in this seat, and petitions demanding re-voting were submitted to the Commission. Subsequently, the Commission conducted an investigation to ascertain the seriousness of the irregularities.
According to sources, the maximum number of complaints demanding re-voting were received from South 24 Parganas district, of which Phalata was one of the main seats which received special attention.
On the instructions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, commission-appointed special observer Subrata Gupta on Thursday visited Phalta, Magrahat, Diamond Harbor and other affected areas to take stock of the situation.
–IANS
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