Re-polling for the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal ended peacefully at 6 p.m. on Thursday. No incidents of violence, tension, or electoral malpractice were reported from any of the 285 polling booths. The polling percentage recorded till 5 p.m. was a high 86.11%, according to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.
“Some voters were still in queues at certain polling booths at the official polling time of 6 p.m., so polling continued for some more time. The final polling percentage, expected to exceed 90%, will be calculated later,” an official mentioned. The high turnout during the re-poll is noteworthy, considering it is unlikely to impact the state’s power dynamics. This success is attributed to the Election Commission of India’s robust security measures and efforts to boost voter confidence.
The Trinamool Congress, the former ruling party in the state, and its candidate Jahangir Khan were notably absent during the re-polling. Despite Khan’s withdrawal announcement, his name remained on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during Thursday’s voting. Polling agents from major parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CPI(M), and Congress were present at all polling stations.
Re-polling was conducted under tight security, with 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed in the constituency, a substantial presence for a single Assembly segment. The initial polling for the Falta Assembly seat took place on April 29. Following complaints of malpractices, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered a re-poll across the entire constituency. The results of the re-polling are scheduled to be announced on May 24.
