West Bengal Phase 2 Voting: EVM Glitch in Diamond Harbour, EC May Order Re-Polling if Needed

West Bengal Phase 2 Voting witnessed fresh disruptions as reports of EVM malfunction and polling delays emerged from multiple locations, including Diamond Harbour. The constituency, which is a high-profile Lok Sabha seat represented by senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, saw temporary suspension of voting at one booth after an Electronic Voting Machine reportedly stopped functioning. Visuals from the polling station showed confusion among voters as officials attempted to address the technical issue. In some areas, polling was briefly halted, leading to concerns among voters who had queued up early to cast their ballots. Election officials have confirmed that reports from affected booths are being collected and reviewed at the state level before being forwarded to the Election Commission of India. Authorities are closely monitoring all such incidents to ensure transparency and smooth conduct of polling. According to inputs from ground reporters, the Election Commission has already issued strict guidelines stating that if any irregularities are found—whether related to EVM malfunction or disruption in webcasting systems—re-polling may be conducted at the affected booths. This measure is intended to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. Security personnel and polling officials remain deployed across sensitive areas to ensure that voting resumes quickly after technical issues are resolved. The Election Commission continues to emphasize that every voter must be given a fair opportunity to exercise their democratic right. Despite these isolated disruptions, polling continues across West Bengal with high voter participation reported in several districts. Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent further interruptions during the remaining hours of voting.