Assembly Elections 2026 Highlights: Magrahat West, Diamond Harbour repolling witness 90% voter turnout

The voter turnout in repolling in the 15 booths in Magrahat West, Diamond Harbour, has touched 90% in what is a big turnout. The ECI ordered repolling for 15 booths in Magrahat West and Diamond Harbour.

BJP candidate from Madurai South constituency in Tamil Nadu has rubbished the exit polls, the majority of which predicted a DMK government in the state. He claimed that the BJP will come to power. "In Tamil Nadu, the majority of the exit polls have favoured the DMK government, which we don't agree with. The exit polls are not exact polls. Things will be different. NDA will form the government... We reject these exit polls. The Vijay factor is untested. He is contesting these elections for the first time... So I can't predict," he said.

As has been the case in the West Bengal polls, the voter turnout for the repolling in Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour has neared 90%. 86.11% in Magrahat Paschim and 87.60% in Diamond Harbour. 

As per the latest update, the Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency witnessed approximately 86.11% voter turnout. The Diamond Harbour assembly constituency saw 87.60% voting till 5 PM. The ECI ordered repolling for 15 booths in Magrahat West and Diamond Harbour.

"We welcome the Election Commission’s decision to conduct a re-poll in 15 booths as there were complaints of proxy voting," Barrackpore BJP candidate Kaustuv Bagchi said. The ECI ordered repolling for 15 booths in Magrahat West and Diamond Harbour.

"DMK is coming to power. We are sweeping this election. As I have said repeatedly, this election is not about who will be the ruling party — it is about who will be the opposition to DMK in the coming years and decades. Surveys show my Chief Minister is the most preferred candidate, with 40–55% support. The second and third choices trail far behind at 20% and 15%. If one odd poll suggests Vijay gaining seats, I don’t believe it. Vijay is not a politician — politics is just a hobby for him. He is a weekend, work‑from‑home politician," DMK spokesperson Salem Dharanidharan said.

On the Falta incident, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, "The BJP is staging a drama. This is their problem, not ours. We have done nothing; the people have voted. The BJP knows that it is going to lose, therefore it is staging this drama."

"Goutam Das is the Officer in Charge of Kalighat Police Station. He got the chair on the BJP's recommendation through the Election Commission. He tried to copy 'Mujra Singham' by holding a gun. Our party opposed this," he added.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee APCC working president Jakir Hussain Sikdar remained confident of Congress forming the government in Assam. "The government in Assam will be formed under the leadership of Congress this time. Congress and its alliance partners will form the government. The public has given the verdict in favour of Congress," Hussain Sikdar said.

15 booths across the Magrahat West and Diamond Harbour constituencies in West Bengal have gone for repolling today. As per the official data till 3 pm, Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency recorded approximately 72.50% voter turnout, while the Diamond Harbour assembly constituency saw a 72.36% voter turnout till 3 PM.

165 Additional Counting Observers have been deployed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to assist Counting Observers for the ongoing General Election to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2026. The Election body has also deployed 77 Police Observers to strengthen security and oversee law and order arrangements around counting booths. 

Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi is confident that his party will form the government in the state. "We have all shared stories of what people on the ground are telling us in Assam... We are forming the next government," Gogoi says.

Abhishek Banerjee, MP from Diamond Harbour, has reached West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's residence for the party's virtual meeting with election agents and candidates of the TMC.

State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal on what he thinks if there will be a repoll in Falta: "A Repoll is only done based on the assessment of the poll which has taken place. Assessment was done by the State General Observer and the team there; they have sent a report. Let us see what the status is."

West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said on Saturday that the saffron party will publish a 'white report' on TMC's corruption within six months after it comes to power in the state. He also said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party has been completely rejected by the people.

"The TMC could not control this election even after lakhs of attempts, apart from a few places like Falta, Diamond Harbour... Repolling is being done at some of these places and people are coming to vote in huge numbers, with enthusiasm, and the change has come... People are determined to remove TMC," he told news agency ANI.

Buoyed by the exit poll projections, actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) remains confident that the party will form the next government in Tamil Nadu, where polling was held in a single phase on April 23. The party also ruled the possibility of a post-poll alliance with the AIADMK. Click here to read more.

Hindus in West Bengal's Falta have said that there is an atmosphere of fear among them despite heavy deployment of security forces. Speaking to India TV, many residents said that they are being threatened by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). 

Note: Falta falls in the Diamond Harbour assembly constituency, where repolling is underway on fourth booths.

A voter turnout of 55.57 per cent has recorded in 15 booths of West Bengal where repolling is underway. In Magrahat Paschim and in Diamond Harbour, it is 56.33 per cent and 54.9 per cent, respectively.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, BJP MP Sudanshu Trivedi said the TMC's confidence has been completely shattered by the exit poll projections and that's why the party approached the Supreme Court over EC's directive. He even said that people of Bengal have lost all trust from the TMC and the party will surely lose the power in the state.

BJP MP Raju Bista said on Saturday that the people of West Bengal have rejected the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which forced Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to move to the Supreme Court against the directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

"The EC is conducting elections independently here; where there used to be so much violence in previous elections, apart from minor incidents, there has been no violence. The EC has succeeded in conducting elections by rectifying all shortcomings and flaws... Mamata Banerjee's departure is certain," he told news agency ANI.

Asking people to wait till May 4, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said on Saturday that the grand old party will 2026 assembly elections in Kerala and the chief minister will be elected following the high command's approval.

“We should wait for 4 May. We hope that the Congress will form the government in Kerala. When the government is formed, it will be the right of the chosen MLAs to decide the CM of Kerala… I have hope that the party high command will approve the one who has the MLA’s support,” he told news agency ANI.

Till 11 am, the voter turnout for repolling in 15 booths of West Bengal stands at 36.99 per cent. The turnout at Magrahat Paschim is 38.2 per cent and at Diamond Harbour is 35.92 per cent.

Congress Assam Election in-charge Bhanwar Jitendra Singh has criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its decision to conduct repolling in 15 booths of West Bengal, and said that there is hardly any faith left in the poll body among the people.

"Not only among the political parties, but there is also no overall confidence in the ECI. They are working as a part and parcel of the BJP. The former CM is here, and we will monitor the situation here and see that the counting is fair," he told news agency ANI.

Rejecting exit poll projections that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will return to power in Assam for a third consecutive term, Congress Assam Election in-charge Bhanwar Jitendra Singh has pointed out that the post-poll surveys had also gone wrong during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when most of them predicted 400 seats for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"There is a very positive sign that we will win this election on the basis of the people's trust on us. They have various issues like corruption, mafia raj that is running... Exit polls are all wrong, they predicted 400+ seats for BJP in Lok Sabha while in reality, they could not even reach 250 seats," he told news agency ANI.

The Supreme Court dismissed the petition filed by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the deployment of central government employees during vote counting in West Bengal. The court made it clear that it found no illegality in the Election Commission’s decision and said there was no need to pass further orders in the case. Click here to read more.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Saturday that electronic voting machines are being tampered with across the country, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using central forces to oust Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from power in West Bengal.

"EVM tampering is happening everywhere in the country. It happened in Maharashtra, it happened in Assam. But in West Bengal, TMC workers are vigilant, so re-polling is happening. Given the way Mamata Banerjee and her party are fighting the Election Commission's corrupt business, they have resorted to repolling," he said.

TVK Executive Committee Chief Coordinator KA Sengottaiyan said on Saturday that Vijay's party will win around 180 to 200 seats in Tamil Nadu elections 2026, adding that the assembly polls will be historic for the state. He also said that party chief Vijay will rule Tamil Nadu with a visionary mind.

"As for me, public opinion polls are clear. People feel that they have found a good leader. That will be reflected on May 4," he told reporters.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the TMC's plea challenging Calcutta High Court verdict over EC's directive and said that the poll body's circular cannot be said to be incorrect.

During the hearing in the Supreme Court, the TMC has criticised the ECI and said the poll body's circular is dated April 13, but the party found out on April 29.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is representing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Supreme Court after the party filed a plea challenging Election Commission's directive of central forces at counting centres on May 4.

The Supreme Court hearing over TMC's plea challenging Election Commission of India's directive over deployment of central forces has begun.

Till 9 am, a voter turnout of 16.23 per cent was recorded in 15 booths of West Bengal where repolling is underway. In Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency, the turnout was 16.68 per cent and 15.83 per cent in Diamond Harbour assembly constituency.

A complaint has been filed by the Trinamool Congress against the Returning Officer of Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, seeking urgent intervention regarding unauthorised sorting of postal ballot covers, reports ANI.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual meeting with all counting agents of the party on Saturday afternoon, two days ahead of the counting of votes polled in the assembly elections, reports news agency PTI.

A political storm erupted in West Bengal Thursday night after the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs), with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visiting a strongroom in south Kolkata to review the situation, as her party leaders staged a sit-in. The TMC alleged that an attempt was made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to tamper the EVMs at the Sakhawat Memorial School, which is a counting center for Banerjee's Bhabanipur assembly constituency. However, the poll officials have refuted the TMC's charge. Click here to read more.

While repolling is underway at 15 booths in West Bengal, a voter at the Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency of South 24 Parganas has criticised the education system and alleged there is misgovernance everywhere in the state, calling for a change. 

"There were some issues here, so re-polling is being held today... Changes should be made in the education system here. Misgovernance is happening and there should be changes," the voter, Sushanta, told ANI.

The Kolkata Police on Friday imposed restrictions and banned any kind of gatherings in seven areas after high drama unfolded on Thursday night night at two counting centres in West Bengal following Trinamool Congress's allegations of EVM tampering. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was imposed outside Sakhawat Memorial School, the counting centre and EVM strong room of Bhawanipur Assembly Constituency. Click here to read more.

Voting is underway at 15 booths in two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district where the Election Commission ordered repolls following reports of electoral malpractices. Visuals from Booth No. 243 in Diamond Harbour constituency.

Heavy security deployment near Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, where repolling started at 7 am on Saturday. Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed near the polling booth to prevent any disruptions during the voting process.

The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and "material circumstances", the Election Commission official said, as reported by news agency PTI.

A security personnel helps a voter, walking with the help of a stick, at booth number 117, Bagda Junior High School, in Diamond Harbour Assembly Constituency in South 24 Parganas district where repolling is being held today.

The West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 will see repolling in 15 booths across two constituencies on Saturday (May 2) after the Election Commission ordered fresh voting in selected polling stations of Magrahat West and Diamond Harbour. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal, the Election Commission said the repolling has been ordered based on inputs received from the state poll machinery and voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm. This is the first time that repolling has been ordered in the present set of assembly polls in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Click here to read more.

TMC leader Shashi Panja has hit out at the Election Commission of India (ECI) for ordering repolling in 15 booths of West Bengal in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim assembly constituencies.

"The EC thinks that repoll was warranted out there. That is why, just in the press conference, we replied that this was basically the strategy of the BJP that on the day of the poll, first phase or the second phase, they would provoke the other political parties. There were incidents where they would incite some kind of trouble so that there could be a massive repoll in many more booths. We did not react to their provocation...This was the strategy of the BJP. They are not prepared, they are not winning. They tried this devious strategy that lets us have a repoll in many places and defame Bengal," she told reporters on Friday. 

West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar said on Friday that the BJP is trying to take the advantage of exit polls, which have predicted a victory for the saffron party in the state. He has called it a propaganda to defeat the BJP.

"The BJP has taken advantage of the exit polls. All exit polls are saying that the BJP is winning... This propaganda is helping the BJP... According to me, the voters in Bengal have a lot of courage; they have a lot of capability to make decisions. All political parties should wait for the final results," he told news agency ANI.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday that the saffron party respects the Election Commission of India's decision to conduct repolling in 15 polling booths of West Bengal in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim seats. 

“Whatever happened at Magrahat West is welcomed. The re-polling should have happened in more booths in Diamond Harbour and in the whole of the Falta segment… There is a system and procedure which is being followed… We respect the Election Commission,” he told reporters.

Voters queuing up outside the polling booth 194 in the Haridevpur Primary School in Diamond Harbour assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district. Repolling at 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four booths in Diamond Harbour for the West Bengal legislative assembly elections is being held today. 

Voters queuing up outside the polling booth at Uttar Yearpur FP School in Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Repolling at 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four booths in Diamond Harbour for the West Bengal legislative assembly elections is being held today. 

Voters queuing up outside the polling booth at booth number 117, Bagda Junior High School in Diamond Harbour assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district. Repolling at 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four booths in Diamond Harbour for the West Bengal legislative assembly elections is being held today. 

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the TMC's plea challenging the ECI's directive, saying there was no illegality in the poll panel's decision. The TMC had argued that the ECI communication was issued without jurisdiction and was based on mere apprehension but the court dismissed it.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi will hear the matter. The hearing will start around 10.30 am on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will also hear a plea by the TMC in which it challenged a Calcutta High Court order that dismissed a petition against ECI's directive over deployment of central forces and PSU employees as counting supervisors on May 4. 

The repolling is being conducted in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim assembly constituencies. In Magrahat Paschim, repolling is being held on 11 booths and in four booths in Diamond Harbour. The Diamond Habour seat is a bastion of TMC's Abhishek Banerjee.

The repolling started at the 15 booths of West Bengal at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), it is being conducted under Section 58(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will conduct repolling in 15 booths of West Bengal in two assembly constituencies - Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim - on Saturday. This comes after allegations of EVM tampering by the BJP.