EC Suspends Polling Staff In Paschim Medinipur After Booth Left Unattended During Voting

The Election Commission of India has taken strict action after a serious lapse was reported during polling in West Bengal.

All polling staff at a booth in the Pingla segment of Paschim Medinipur district have been suspended for allegedly leaving the polling station unattended during voting hours.

Booth Left Unattended During Polling Hours

According to officials, the incident took place at Booth No. 9, where the entire polling team reportedly stepped out together around noon, allegedly for a lunch break. This left the polling station unmanned for a period of time.

Adding to the concern, the sector officer responsible for supervising the area was also reportedly absent at the time.

Such lapses are considered serious, as they can disrupt the voting process and raise questions about election management.

Immediate Action Taken by Election Commission

Taking note of the incident, the Election Commission ordered immediate suspension of all polling personnel, including the presiding officer.

A senior official confirmed that a reserve polling team was quickly deployed to the booth to ensure that voting could continue without further disruption.

The Commission has also ordered a detailed inquiry and asked the District Election Officer to submit a report on the matter.

Polling Continues with Replacement Team

Despite the disruption, voting resumed smoothly after the replacement team took charge. Officials said that necessary steps were taken to ensure that voters did not face major inconvenience.

The incident occurred during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, where polling was held across 152 constituencies.

Political War Over High Voter Turnout

Meanwhile, a political debate has intensified over the high voter turnout recorded in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier suggested that the strong turnout indicated a desire for political change.

However, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongly disagreed with this interpretation.

TMC Says High Turnout Favors Mamata Banerjee

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the high turnout reflects strong support for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government's development work.

He argued that the BJP was misreading the voter sentiment and claimed that the large turnout signals a clear rejection of the opposition.

"This is not a vote for change, but an endorsement of Mamata Banerjee's governance," Ghosh said.

TMC Projects Strong Performance

With around 89.93% turnout recorded till 5 PM, TMC leaders expressed confidence about their electoral prospects.

Kunal Ghosh claimed that the party is likely to win a significant majority in Phase 1 seats, estimating a tally of 125 to 134 seats out of 152 constituencies.

He also maintained that higher voter participation would translate into more support for the ruling party.