Supreme Court Dismisses TMC's Petition Against Election Commission Directive
The Supreme Court has dismissed the Trinamool Congress's petition challenging the Election Commission's directive regarding counting supervisors for the upcoming elections in West Bengal. This ruling comes amid political tensions, with the BJP criticizing TMC's actions as desperate. As re-voting occurs in select constituencies, exit polls suggest varying outcomes across different states. The counting of votes is set for May 4, raising stakes for all parties involved. Discover the implications of this ruling and the political landscape as the elections approach.
May 2, 2026, 15:38 IST
Supreme Court's Ruling on TMC's Petition
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) faced a setback on Saturday when the Supreme Court rejected its petition challenging a Calcutta High Court order. This order upheld the Election Commission's directive that only central forces and public sector employees should be appointed as counting supervisors at polling centers on May 4. The two-judge bench, comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, stated that the Election Commission's circular could not be deemed incorrect. While the court acknowledged that the commission could select counting personnel solely from one group, namely the central government, it assured that TMC representatives would be present during the counting process on May 4. This decision follows the Election Commission's commitment to strictly implement the circular issued on April 13.
Political Reactions and Re-voting
Previously, the BJP criticized TMC's actions, suggesting that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was desperate following predictions of a BJP victory in most exit polls conducted in West Bengal. However, Banerjee has dismissed these exit poll estimates, expressing confidence in her party's return to power for a fourth consecutive term. Meanwhile, re-voting is taking place on Saturday at 15 polling centers in two assembly constituencies of South 24 Parganas district—Diamond Harbour and Magrahat West. The Election Commission ordered this re-vote based on information received from the state election machinery. The BJP had lodged a complaint with the commission, alleging tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs), booth jamming, and other irregularities during the second phase of voting on April 29.
Details of Re-voting and Exit Poll Predictions
Re-voting was mandated for 11 booths in Magrahat West and four booths in Diamond Harbour, which is notably the stronghold of TMC's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. In other states, exit polls in Tamil Nadu have indicated a lead for the DMK alliance led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, while some have predicted an unexpected victory for the TVK party. In Kerala, exit polls suggest a potential return to power for the Congress-led UDF. In Assam and Puducherry, exit polls forecast a win for the BJP-led NDA. The counting of votes across these four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry is scheduled for May 4.