Kolkata

More than 55 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm on Saturday in the repoll being conducted at 15 polling booths across two assembly constituencies in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, officials said.

Fresh polling is underway in 11 booths of Magrahat Paschim and four booths in Diamond Harbour after the Election Commission ordered a repoll following complaints of alleged irregularities during the second phase of the state elections.

According to election officials, the overall voter turnout stood at 55.57 per cent by 1 pm. Magrahat Paschim recorded 56.33 per cent polling, while Diamond Harbour registered 54.9 per cent.

Polling remained largely peaceful across the booths, barring a brief protest at booth number 179 at Chanda Primary School in Diamond Harbour.

The Trinamool Congress alleged that a specially abled voter and his mother, who had accompanied him to assist in voting, were stopped and held for some time by central security personnel over an alleged violation of polling rules.

The incident triggered protests by local residents and party workers, with TMC leaders Manmohini Biswas and Pratik Ur Rahman reaching the spot to intervene. Election officials later said the issue had been addressed and the situation brought under control.

Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm under tight security arrangements, officials said.

The Election Commission said the decision to hold repoll was based on reports submitted by returning officers, observers and other material inputs received after polling on April 29.

In Magrahat Paschim, Trinamool Congress candidate Md Samim Ahamed Molla is contesting against BJP nominee Goursundar Ghosh, while Congress candidate Abdul Majid Halder and ISF’s Abdul Aziz Al Hassan are also in the fray.

In Diamond Harbour, TMC’s Panna Lal Halder is facing BJP candidate Dipak Kumar Halder, with candidates from Congress and CPI(M) also contesting.

The BJP had earlier alleged widespread electoral malpractices in booths located under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

The poll panel has also deputed special observer Subrata Gupta to verify the allegations on the ground.

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The Election Commission is expected to take a call later in the day on demands for repoll in the Falta assembly constituency. Counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held on May 4.