BJP's Debnagshi Panda leads Falta repolling count; TMC trails 4th
Synopsis
Falta's repolling count has delivered an early shock: BJP's Debnagshi Panda leads with 9,534 votes after round one, while TMC strongman Jahangir Khan — once the undisputed force in the constituency — sits fourth with just 210. If the trend holds across 21 rounds, BJP's West Bengal tally climbs to 208 seats.
Key Takeaways
BJP candidate Debnagshi Panda leads the Falta repolling count with 9,534 votes after the first round.
TMC candidate Jahangir Khan is placed fourth with just 210 votes .
CPI(M)'s Sambhunath Kurmi is second ( 448 votes ); Congress's Abdur Razzak is third ( 225 votes ).
A total of 21 rounds of counting are underway; the final result is expected by 1 pm .
A BJP win at Falta would take the party's West Bengal Assembly tally to 208 seats , up from 207 .
Falta was the only seat among 294 where results were not declared on 4 May .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Debnagshi Panda has surged to a commanding lead in the first round of vote counting for the Falta Assembly constituency repolling on Sunday, 24 May, with the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate placed a distant fourth. According to data released by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the early trends point to a decisive shift in one of the state's most closely watched seats.
First-Round Vote Tally
After the opening round of counting, Debnagshi Panda of the BJP has accumulated 9,534 votes — a lead that BJP supporters outside the counting centre have already begun celebrating with sweets. CPI(M) candidate Sambhunath Kurmi is a distant second with 448 votes, followed by Congress candidate Abdur Razzak at 225 votes. Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan, who was once considered the dominant force in Falta, has secured just 210 votes, placing him fourth.
What the Repolling Means
Counting for Falta is being held separately because it was the only constituency among West Bengal's 294 Assembly seats where results were not declared on 4 May. On that day, the BJP swept 207 constituencies, reducing the Trinamool Congress to just 80 seats. Congress won two seats, while CPI(M) and the All India Secular Front (AISF) claimed one each. Notably, Humayun Kabir — founder of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) and a former Trinamool Congress legislator — won from both Naoda and Rejinagar in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district. Should Panda hold his lead across all 21 rounds, the BJP's Assembly tally will rise to 208 seats.
Voters Speak on Polling Day
BJP supporters outside the counting centre cited the repolling's peaceful conduct as a turning point. 'Since the Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal in 2011, there was not a single election where the voters of Falta could vote fearlessly in an intimidation-free ambience. Even many Trinamool Congress supporters could not cast their votes in the previous elections, since Jahangir Khan and his gang did not trust them. However, on the day of repolling, there was absolutely peaceful polling with everyone able to cast a vote. We are confident that at the end of the counting, our candidate Debangshi Panda will win by a massive margin,' said a BJP supporter outside the polling centre.
What Happens Next
A total of 21 rounds of counting are scheduled, with a final result expected by 1 pm. The outcome will determine whether the BJP consolidates its already dominant position in the West Bengal Assembly. All eyes remain on whether Panda's early lead holds as later rounds — typically reflecting different booth clusters — are added to the tally.
Point of View
Even at one round, are politically significant beyond the single seat. TMC's Jahangir Khan trailing in fourth — behind both CPI(M) and Congress — signals a collapse of the local machine politics that kept the constituency in the TMC column. The wider West Bengal result, where TMC was reduced to 80 seats, already told a story of incumbency fatigue; Falta, with its repolling ordered precisely because of earlier irregularities, now looks like a punctuation mark on that story. The BJP's path to 208 seats, if confirmed, gives it a supermajority-adjacent position that will shape the next five years of state politics.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Falta Assembly constituency repolling?
Falta was the only one of West Bengal's 294 Assembly seats where polling had to be held again, which is why its count is taking place separately on 24 May. The repolling was ordered after the original poll in the constituency was deemed invalid.
Who is leading the Falta vote count after round one?
BJP candidate Debnagshi Panda leads with 9,534 votes after the first round of counting. CPI(M)'s Sambhunath Kurmi is second with 448 votes, Congress's Abdur Razzak third with 225, and TMC's Jahangir Khan fourth with 210.
Why is Jahangir Khan's fourth-place position significant?
Jahangir Khan was previously considered the dominant political figure in Falta, and the TMC was widely expected to contest the seat strongly. His trailing position after the first round marks a sharp reversal for the party in the constituency.
What will the BJP's Assembly tally be if Panda wins?
A BJP win at Falta would take the party's West Bengal Assembly seat count from 207 to 208, further consolidating its majority in the state.
When will the final Falta result be declared?
All 21 rounds of counting are expected to conclude by 1 pm on 24 May, when the official result will be declared.
