NEW DELHI, May 2: In an unprecedented development, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced re-polling in the entire Falta state Assembly constituency in West Bengal on May 21.
Citing the re-polling in 15 polling booths on Saturday as “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process,” the ECI ordered re-polling in all the 285 polling stations in Falta constituency falling under the Diamond Harbour Parliamentary seat in South 24 Parganas district.
The polling in Falta on May 21 will be held from 7 am to 6 pm, and votes will be counted on May 24.
“On consideration of severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during the polling in a large number of polling stations on 29th April 2026 in 144-Falta Assembly Constituency, West Bengal, the ECI directs that a fresh poll shall be conducted in all the 285 polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations,” the poll body said in its order.
This means on May 4, the counting of votes will be conducted for 293 seats in West Bengal. The poll body’s action came days after the BJP, fighting to unseat the ruling Trinamool Congress, alleged voting machines had been tampered with in the Falta seat.
Earlier in the day, re-polling was held across 15 polling booths in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim as the EC declared polls at the affected booths as void based on reports from Returning Officers (ROs) and Observers.
In the day time, massive protests were reported from Falta as locals alleged that they were receiving threats from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadre. Various videos shared on social media showed locals getting into heated arguments with the security personnel during protests.
(Manas Dasgupta)
