Voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway. Meanwhile, clashes broke out between BJP and TMC workers at several locations. The CRPF and NIA have been deployed. The BJP has accused the TMC, and the TMC has accused the BJP. There have been complaints of EVM tampering at several booths in Kolkata's Diamond Harbour constituency.

Kolkata: Voting for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway. Mamata Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of bias. Meanwhile, the BJP has alleged that the lotus symbol button has been removed from EVM machines at several booths. It's alleged that the option button has been taped to prevent people from voting for the BJP. BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya has also shared videos in which the BJP button is not visible on the EVM. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has issued a statement, stating that re-elections will be held wherever such complaints have been received.

Amit Malviya said, "This is Mamata Banerjee. This is the same Mamata Banerjee who spoke out in support of Jahangir Khan, a criminal who is contesting on a TMC ticket from Falta in Diamond Harbour."

Amit Malviya shared the video

Amit Malviya of the IT Cell said that at many polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked with tape, effectively depriving voters of the opportunity to choose their preferred candidate. This is the so-called Diamond Harbour model, the same method that helped Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat. We demand immediate re-election at all affected booths in Falta where such incidents occurred. Details of some such booths, along with evidence, are provided below.

There have been complaints of missing BJP button from EVMs at several booths.

The BJP said the incident occurred at booth number 144, section 170, room number 2, at Harindanga High School in Falta. When a person arrived to vote, the BJP symbol button on the EVM was covered. There was no option to vote for the BJP. They alleged that booth 189 was similarly affected, along with several other booths.

West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Wednesday said that polling booths where any EVM button is taped will have to go for re-polling, following allegations by the BJP of irregularities in Falta, which falls under the Diamond Harbour constituency.

If there are reports of tape on any buttons, they should be investigated and noted. If found to be true, re-voting will be conducted in those booths.

CEO of West Bengal

This is what Mamata Banerjee was defending when she spoke up for Jehangir Khan, a criminal contesting on a TMC ticket from Falta in Diamond Harbour.

In several polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked using a tape, effectively preventing voters from… pic.twitter.com/sKw3mcdA86

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 29, 2026

Complaints came from many booths

BJP's West Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya alleged that voters were prevented from choosing the party's candidate at several polling booths in Falta, under the Diamond Harbour constituency, during the ongoing second phase of the assembly elections. He claimed that at several booths, the BJP's choice was allegedly blocked using tape.

Voting continues in Bengal

The BJP has fielded Deepak Kumar Halder against TMC's sitting MLA Panna Lal Halder in Diamond Harbour. This is the second time the two are contesting, as in the previous elections, Panna Lal Halder defeated the BJP candidate by a '>Exit Poll Results LIVE Here

According to the Election Commission of India, East Burdwan led with a voter turnout of 44.50 percent. It was followed by Hooghly, which recorded a voter turnout of 43.12 percent till 11 am. Kolkata North and Kolkata South recorded a voter turnout of 38.39 percent and 36.78 percent, respectively.

PC:NBT