Falta re-poll begins under 35 CAPF companies amid BJP walkover fears
Synopsis
West Bengal's Falta Assembly seat is going to re-poll after EVM buttons for BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape on 29 April. With TMC's Jahangir Khan having announced his withdrawal — though his name stays on the ballot — political observers say a BJP win is now virtually assured, which would push the party's West Bengal tally to 208 seats.
Key Takeaways
Re-polling for Falta Assembly constituency , South 24 Parganas , began at 7 am on 21 May 2025 under 35 CAPF companies .
The re-poll was ordered by the Election Commission of India after EVM buttons for BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape on 29 April .
TMC candidate Jahangir Khan announced his withdrawal, but the CEO's office confirmed his name will still appear on the EVM.
A BJP victory would raise its West Bengal Assembly tally to 208 seats .
Special observer Subrata Gupta 's inquiry into malpractice allegations formed the basis of the ECI's re-poll order.
Re-polling for the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, commenced at 7 am on Thursday, 21 May, under an unusually heavy security blanket of 35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel — a deployment considered exceptionally large for a single constituency. The polling process remained peaceful as of the latest reports.
Why Falta Is Going to Re-Poll
The original election for Falta was held on 29 April, but multiple complaints of alleged electoral malpractices surfaced shortly after. At several polling booths, the EVM buttons corresponding to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates were allegedly covered with white tape, effectively obstructing voters from selecting those options.
Special poll observer Subrata Gupta, who currently serves as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, personally visited Falta and conducted a ground-level inquiry into the allegations. Based on his findings, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered a fresh poll across the entire Falta constituency.
TMC Candidate Withdraws, BJP Eyes Easier Win
In a significant political development ahead of the re-poll, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing solidarity with a new development package for Falta announced by Chief Minister Adhikari. Political observers now widely regard a BJP victory here as near-certain, which would lift the party's tally in the West Bengal Assembly to 208.
However, the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO's) office clarified that Khan's withdrawal has no legal bearing on the re-poll. 'Polling for the Falta Assembly constituency had already been conducted once on April 29. On May 21, it will just be a re-poll. So, nothing else changes, including the candidates contesting from Falta,' an insider at the CEO's office said. Khan's name will therefore continue to appear on the EVM.
What Observers Are Watching
Beyond the BJP-TMC contest, political analysts are closely tracking the vote share of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and Congress candidates. Whether their combined vote percentage improves, holds steady, or erodes relative to the 29 April figures is seen as a secondary but telling indicator of opposition consolidation in the constituency.
Notably, the 35-company CAPF deployment underscores how seriously the ECI is treating the integrity of this re-poll, given the malpractice allegations that triggered it in the first place.
Broader Context
The Falta re-poll comes at a politically charged moment in West Bengal, with Suvendu Adhikari having recently assumed office as the state's ninth Chief Minister. A BJP win here would consolidate the party's legislative position in the assembly and add momentum to its post-election consolidation drive in the state. The result is expected to be declared in the coming days.
Point of View
Dressed up as solidarity with a development package, reads more as a tactical retreat than a principled stand. Critically, the CEO's office insistence that Khan's name stays on the ballot preserves the legal integrity of the process, but the political optics are already settled: this is a BJP walkover, and both sides know it.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is re-polling being held in Falta Assembly constituency?
Re-polling was ordered by the Election Commission of India after multiple complaints emerged that EVM buttons corresponding to BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape during the original 29 April election. Special observer Subrata Gupta conducted an inquiry and his findings prompted the ECI to order a fresh poll across the entire Falta constituency.
What security arrangements have been made for the Falta re-poll?
A total of 35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel have been deployed for the re-poll — an unusually high number for a single assembly constituency, reflecting the seriousness with which the Election Commission is treating the integrity of the exercise.
Has TMC's Jahangir Khan officially withdrawn from the Falta re-poll?
Khan announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing solidarity with a development package for Falta announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. However, the CEO's office clarified that his name will still appear on the EVM, as the re-poll is a continuation of the original 29 April election and no candidate changes are permitted.
How will a BJP win in Falta affect its West Bengal Assembly tally?
If the BJP wins the Falta re-poll, its seat count in the West Bengal Assembly would rise to 208, further consolidating its legislative position in the state under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
What are observers watching in the Falta re-poll beyond the BJP-TMC contest?
Political analysts are tracking whether the vote shares of CPI(M) and Congress candidates improve, hold steady, or decline compared to the 29 April figures. Their combined performance is seen as a gauge of opposition consolidation in the constituency.
