The Election Commission of India (EC) has mandated a complete repoll in all 285 polling booths of the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district. The decision, announced on Saturday, May 3, 2026, voids the original poll held on April 29, citing "severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process."
Fresh polling, including at auxiliary stations, is scheduled for May 21, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., under stringent security arrangements to ensure a free, fair, and transparent exercise. Vote counting for the constituency will now take place on May 24.
Reasons Behind the Falta Repoll Order
The EC's order came after a thorough review of reports submitted by the Chief Electoral Officer, District Election Officer, Returning Officer, and other field officials, along with inputs from observers and material on record. Observers flagged numerous allegations, including voter intimidation, the unauthorized presence of individuals inside polling booths, and potential tampering with the electoral process.
Specific procedural violations and irregularities detailed in documents reviewed by the Commission include:
- Companion Voting: At multiple stations, such as PS 78, 80, 144, 227, 231, 235, 232, and 247, reports indicated companions frequently casting votes on behalf of voters. In some instances, unauthorized persons entered voting compartments, and polling agents were observed instructing voters or even casting votes themselves. Booth 224 reported an "extremely large number of instances" of companions voting throughout the day, with some individuals allegedly voting multiple times.
- Missing Video Footage: Significant gaps in video surveillance were identified across numerous locations. PS 229, for example, had no footage from the start of polling until 3:41 PM. Other booths like PS 226, 230, and 245 also reported missing clips for various timeframes during the day. A serious lapse was noted where the Returning Officer for a cluster of booths (including 10, 76, 77, 99, 100, 118, 138, 140, 146, 156, 165, 186, 193, and 218) failed to produce footage between 2 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on April 30, leaving allegations of voter intimidation and obstruction unverified.
- Unreliable Reports: Action Taken Reports from officials at booths 161 and 163 were deemed "unreliable and untruthful" by the Commission.
The EC emphasized the gravity of these incidents and the vitiation of the poll process as the basis for declaring the April 29 poll void.
Measures for the Fresh Poll
To prevent any recurrence of malpractice, the EC has directed authorities to deploy adequate central forces, micro-observers, and webcasting facilities wherever required. The entire polling process for the repoll will be videographed and closely monitored.
Political Context of Falta
The Falta Assembly seat is a focal point of political attention. Key candidates include Jahangir Khan from the local Trinamool Congress (TMC), Debangshu Panda representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Abdur Razzak Molla of the Congress. Sambhu Nath Kurmi of the CPI(M) is also contesting.
BJP's former Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar welcomed the repoll order, describing it as a "victory of the women of Falta" over alleged "atrocities."