Falta Repolling Begins Amid Tight Security; TMC’s Jahangir Khan In The Fray Despite Withdrawal

Repolling in West Bengal's Falta assembly seat started on Thursday morning under heavy security, after allegations of serious irregularities during the April 29 voting turned the constituency in South 24 Parganas into a major confrontation point between the BJP, the TMC and election authorities.

The constituency, part of Abhishek Banerjee's Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha area, has long been politically sensitive. More than 2.36 lakh electors, including 1.15 lakh women and nine third-gender voters, are eligible to vote across 285 booths, with polling beginning at 7 am under close monitoring.

Falta repoll security measures and Election Commission action

The Election Commission ordered the Falta repoll citing "severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process" during the second phase of the assembly elections on April 29. Officials reported attempts to interfere with web camera recordings and alleged manipulation of electronic voting machines at one Falta booth.

Security arrangements for the Falta repoll have been scaled up. A total of 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Force are deployed, with eight personnel, equal to one full section, posted at each polling station. During the earlier polling, only four personnel, or half a section, guarded each booth.

Political flashpoint and voter experience in Falta repoll

Political tension has remained high in Falta as both the ruling BJP in the state and the TMC accuse each other of trying to influence the process. Voters reported a different atmosphere this time. One voter told ANI, "It is the same as it was back in my childhood. We were scared to cast our votes 15 years back, but not anymore. 15 years back, we were not even allowed to come to the booth, the goons would stop us at the gate…I am very happy today."

VIDEO | West Bengal: Voting underway for the re-election to the Falta assembly seat in South 24 Parganas district, amid tight security.

A voter, Debashish Ghosh, says, "Voting here has been completely normal and peaceful. Everything happened smoothy. I cast my vote properly… pic.twitter.com/quXSbcvF4r

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 21, 2026

The role of booth-level officers, presiding officers, polling staff and election observers has come under scrutiny after the April 29 incidents. Former Election Commission Special Observer Subrata Gupta inspected multiple booths in Falta and, after scrutiny, evidence of suspected tampering was reportedly found in at least 60 polling stations.

Parties, candidates and political attacks in Falta repoll

Six candidates are officially in the contest in the Falta repoll. However, TMC nominee Jahangir Khan announced on Tuesday that participation was being withdrawn, though the name remains on the EVMs because the formal withdrawal deadline had already expired when the announcement was made.

Other candidates in Falta include BJP's Debangshu Panda, CPI(M)'s Sambhu Nath Kurmi and Congress candidate Abdur Razzak Molla. Police earlier arrested Saidul Khan, described as a close associate of Jahangir and Trinamool's Falta vice-president, on several charges, including issuing death threats linked to political rivalry.

Allegations, Falta repoll and state political backdrop

Following the April 29 polling, complaints surfaced from several Falta booths that adhesive tapes and perfume-like substances had been applied to EVMs, raising fears about machine functioning. These claims, along with camera tampering attempts, helped trigger the Election Commission's decision to conduct a repoll in the seat.

West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari targeted Jahangir during a rally in Diamond Harbour, referring to an earlier comparison Jahangir made with a character from the film Pushpa: The Rise. Adhikari said, "Where is that Pushpa -- the dacoit? He is not seen anywhere now. The National Human Rights Commission declared 19 persons as notorious criminals in 2021. Jahangir was one of them. Leave him to me. I will take care of him."

Falta has usually been a stronghold of the TMC, which has controlled the seat since 2001, except in 2006 when the CPI(M) secured victory. The broader state picture shifted when, in the 2026 assembly elections, BJP secured 207 seats, ending TMC's 15-year rule in the state, while TMC managed to win 80 seats only.

Quick Response Teams, 30 in number, remain on standby near Falta to address any disturbance during repolling. With tighter security, closer oversight and strong political interest, the contest in this single constituency continues to reflect wider rivalry between parties in West Bengal and ongoing debate about electoral fairness.