Kolkata: Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) leader Amit Malviya on April 29, Wednesday alleged that voters were prevented from choosing the BJP at several polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency during the ongoing phase two of Assembly polling. He claimed that in multiple booths, the BJP option was allegedly blocked using tape, calling it the “Diamond Harbour Model” and demanding a repoll in the affected areas.
In a post on X, Malviya wrote, “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 exercising their choice. This is the so-called “Diamond Harbour Model”, the same template that helped Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat”.
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
The BJP leader has demanded an immediate repoll in affected booths in Falta, while also claiming that booth 189 is also facing similar problems. “We demand an immediate repoll in all affected booths in Falta where such incidents have occurred. Details of a couple of such booths, along with evidence, are provided below: Falta 144 Part 170 Room No. 2 – Harindanga High School Booth 189 is also compromised in a similar manner along with several others”, the post read.
Election Commission assures repoll if allegations are proven
Replying to the allegations, the Election Commission has assured of a repoll if the allegations are proven true. “If any irregularities or if reports of taping of any button come in, that should be verified and noted. If true, those booths will go for a repoll, said the West Bengal Election Commissioner. Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) for the state said that the polling booths with taping of any EVM button will undergo repolling, after the BJP alleged irregularities in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency.
The BJP has fielded Dipak Kumar Halder against TMC’s sitting MLA Panna Lal Halder in Diamond Harbour. They are facing a repeat clash after Panna Lal Halder defeated the BJP candidate in the last elections by a margin of 16,996 (7.6 per cent) votes. Meanwhile, West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 39.97 per cent until 11AM, as polling for the 142 seats in the second phase of the Assembly elections is underway.
According to the Election Commission of India, Purba Bardhaman stood at the top, with a voting percentage of 44.50 per cent, followed by Hooghly, which has witnessed 43.12 per cent polling until 11AM. Kolkata North and Kolkata South recorded a voter turnout of 38.39 per cent and 36.78 per cent, respectively. Amit Malviya hailed the huge turn out in the initial hours of polling. He remarked it as a “vote for change”.
(With Inputs from ANI)
