West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Wednesday, 29 April reiterated a strict zero tolerance policy towards polling irregularities, including allegations of EVM tampering, and confirmed that repolling would be ordered wherever evidence warranted it. The declaration came as voting progressed across 142 constituencies in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

What the CEO Said

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata during active polling hours, Agarwal said the Election Commission machinery was monitoring developments through multiple channels — webcasting, field reports, and observers' inputs. He was unequivocal: wherever credible information pointed to irregularities, the Commission would act without hesitation.

"From wherever we have got the tip, where there are allegations that is another matter, but from the places we have got the right information, from webcasting we have seen here, the District Magistrate has seen from the webcasting, where there are reports from the field, when the observer report comes, therein we have zero tolerance," he said.

He added that the Commission had communicated this position well in advance. "We have said earlier also that wherever we get any kind of EVM tampering, a repoll will be done," Agarwal stated.

Security Incident During Polling

Agarwal confirmed that a disturbance was reported at one location during the day but was swiftly contained by security forces. "A quick response team (QRT) reached there, Kolkata Police was there, later Central forces also reached there, and the situation was brought to normal," he said.

He described such incidents as deeply undesirable on polling day. "These are not good incidents that a crowd will gather at some place. This is not done during the day of elections," Agarwal remarked, underscoring the importance of maintaining order and decorum during the democratic exercise.

Voter Secrecy Protocols

Addressing concerns about surveillance at polling stations, Agarwal clarified that while CCTV cameras are deployed for monitoring, they are positioned to ensure the secrecy of the ballot is fully preserved. "When you are going inside the enclosure, there is no CCTV or camera. Cameras can only see that you have gone inside the enclosure and are coming out," he said.

He further warned that violations of voter secrecy laws carry a penalty of three months or more in jail. "Whoever votes, it is completely secret. And whoever breaks the law will be jailed for three months or more than that. This is the law of the land," Agarwal added.

Scale of Phase 2 Polling

Voting in the second phase covered 142 constituencies across West Bengal, conducted under tight security arrangements. Authorities maintained a close watch on sensitive areas to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process. This phase is among the most closely scrutinised in the current election cycle, given the state's history of poll-day disturbances.

What Happens Next

The Election Commission is expected to review webcasting footage and observer reports after polling concludes to determine whether any booth-level repolling is required. Any confirmed instance of EVM tampering will trigger an automatic repoll order, Agarwal indicated. The credibility of the overall election outcome will depend significantly on how cleanly this phase concludes.