Bengal polls: EC orders re-polling at polling booths where EVMs were taped

The Election Commission has ordered re-polling in West Bengal at all polling stations where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were found tampered with using black or white tape. The state election office stated that the commission maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards such incidents. If a large number of booths in any assembly constituency report taped EVMs, re-polling will be conducted across the entire assembly seat. Over 2,000 complaints regarding poll day irregularities, including intimidation and EVM tampering, have been registered with the authorities. District officials have been instructed to corroborate these complaints and submit a consolidated report. South 24 Parganas has recorded the highest number of complaints, followed by Kolkata and East Barddhaman. Allegations and counter-allegations have emerged from both the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party regarding the taping of their respective party symbols on the EVMs. The Election Commission will decide on further action after reviewing the detailed reports from the affected districts.