West Bengal: Repolling Ordered at All 285 Booths of Falta Assembly Seat

Kolkata: Fresh polling will be held in West Bengal's Falta Assembly constituency. The Election Commission has decided to conduct re-polling at all polling stations within the Falta Assembly segment. The voting will take place on May 21, from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 24. In the recent electoral history of Bengal, this decision is virtually unprecedented.

On How Many Seats Will Re-polling Take Place?

As per the directives of the Election Commission, fresh polling will be conducted at all 285 polling stations within the Falta Assembly constituency. Fresh votes will also be cast at all auxiliary polling stations. Consequently, while the election results for 293 seats in Bengal are set to be declared on May 4, Falta will be excluded from this announcement.

Growing Demands for Re-polling?

In fact, voting for the Falta Assembly constituency took place specifically on April 29, during the second phase of the elections. On that day, allegations surfaced regarding disruptions to the voting process at various booths across the constituency. Additionally, complaints were received alleging that stickers had been pasted onto Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Furthermore, it was alleged that a large section of local residents was prevented from casting their votes. Since then, demands for a re-election in Falta had been steadily mounting. The day following the polling, incidents of road blockades were reported in several parts of Falta; these protests were staged by residents to voice their opposition to being deprived of their right to vote.

Order for Re-polling Across the Entire Falta Region?

On Friday night, the State's Special Roll Observer, Subrata Gupta, confirmed that the Commission had received numerous complaints regarding the situation in Falta. These complaints were being carefully scrutinized, and CCTV camera footage was also undergoing intensive examination. Subsequently, on Saturday night, the Commission issued a directive ordering a re-poll across the entire Falta Assembly constituency. It is noteworthy that on Saturday, re-elections were also conducted at several booths in the Magrahat West and Diamond Harbour Assembly constituencies.

Are There Allegations of Voter Intimidation in Falta?

Earlier, on Saturday, the Election Commission directed the Diamond Harbour District Police in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district to immediately register an FIR against close associates of Jahangir Khan, the Trinamool Congress candidate from the Falta Assembly constituency. Villagers have alleged that these associates threatened them and their family members with dire consequences if they voted for the BJP.

Warning of Strict Disciplinary Action?

Sources within the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal stated that the Commission has warned the Diamond Harbour District Police that if they fail to comply with its directives—specifically by failing to register an FIR and initiate action against those accused of intimidating the villagers—strict disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned officials.