West Bengal Election 2026 Repolls Highlights: 87% turnout in re-polling in 15 booths in Bengal till 5 pm

Local residents staged a protest on Saturday in the Falta area of South 24 Parganas district, alleging threats and intimidation by Trinamool Congress cadre ahead of the counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled on May 4.Heavy security deployment was witnessed in the area, with personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force stationed at key locations. An armoured CRPF vehicle was also deployed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order amid rising tensions. Protesting residents, including several women, raised concerns about their safety and demanded action against those allegedly responsible. A local woman claimed, "TMC's Israfil Chowkidar has threatened us that if these people win, they will burn our houses and carry out bloodshed." Another woman alleged that despite voting for the ruling party, they were targeted. "We had voted for TMC, yet they attacked us... We want him to be arrested. We need safety for women," she said.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said that repolling in select booths is a routine electoral exercise, even as the Supreme Court declined to issue fresh directions on a plea related to the deployment of counting supervisors in West Bengal Assembly elections."From the time that I have been following elections, repolling is done in some seats. This is not new," Roy said, downplaying concerns around the ongoing repoll in parts of the state.The remarks came after the Supreme Court of India disposed of a plea filed by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), which had challenged a Calcutta High Court order regarding the deployment of only Central government and PSU employees as counting supervisors. A special bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter urgently ahead of the May 4 counting.During the hearing, the Court recorded the submission of the Election Commission of India that its April 13 circular would be implemented in full. This includes the deployment of State government employees along with Central and PSU personnel in the counting process. The bench declined to pass further orders, reiterating the ECI's assurance.

TMC candidate from Shyampukur, Shashi Panja says, "Some buttons of the EVM were taped which is why the repoll is being done, and it is understandable. The EC should see who taped the buttons. People have now realised that as soon as the second phase of polling got over, prices of LPG increased. TMC had always said that LPG prices will increase as soon as the elections are done. People have seen this and no matter how many times you repoll now, TMC will win."

A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation held talks with the West Bengal Election Commission on Saturday over the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged EVM tampering during the state’s 2026 Assembly polls. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions after the party raised concerns about the integrity of electronic voting machines and demanded stricter oversight and transparency in the counting process. As the Election Commission moves to reassure stakeholders that all procedures are being followed in letter and spirit, the TMC has pressed for prompt action on its technical and procedural objections, turning the EVM issue into a key flashpoint in the final phase of the Bengal election drama.

The Supreme Court declined to pass any directions on a plea filed by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) challenging the Calcutta High Court order, which had rejected its petition against the alleged deployment of only Central government employees as voter counting supervisors in the West Bengal assembly election.A special Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi was constituted on a Saturday to hear the matter urgently, as vote counting is scheduled to begin on May 4, and the petitioner argued that any delay would render the plea infructuous.After hearing both sides, the Court declined to issue any directions in the case. It recorded the submission of the ECI that its April 13 circular would be implemented in full. The Court noted that this includes the deployment of State government employees along with Central government and PSU personnel in the vote counting process, as claimed by AITC.The Bench, therefore, disposed of the matter without passing further orders, except reiterating the statement made by the ECI's counsel.

On BJP demanding re-polling in Falta constituency, party leader Arjun Singh, says, “For that to occur, either a major incident of violence must have taken place there, or the Presiding Officer appointed by the Election Commission must have been compromised, and this applies to every location where such irregularities are occurring...while polling is underway. First and foremost, the Presiding Officer should be put in jail. Once the Presiding Officer is incarcerated, it will establish a clear narrative: that anyone who engages in wrongdoing will end up in prison.”

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed the TMC's plea challenging Calcutta High Court verdict over Election Commission's directive and said that the poll body's circular cannot be said to be incorrect or inaccurate.

Magrahat Paschim records voter turnout of 16.68%, Diamond Harbour at 15.83%.

A voter, Abdur Rehman, says, "I have been standing here for an hour now. They are telling us that the machine is facing glitches and that someone will come to fix it. But no one has come till now. When will it happen?".

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual meeting with all counting agents of the party on Saturday afternoon, two days ahead of the counting of votes polled in the assembly elections, a senior party leader said.

Voters in Diamond Harbour constituency in West Bengal acknowledged the irregularities with polling on April 29, and stated that re-polling held on Saturday was "fine."After voting at booth number 117, in Diamond Harbour constituency, a voter told ANI, "It was fine earlier too, it is fine now as well. Such things (re-polling) keep happening. There is no problem." Another voter at the booth stated, "The machine was malfunctioning the last time. It is fine in the re-polling."