Falta counting underway as Trinamool agents skip centre; BJP eyes upset
Synopsis
TMC's candidate withdrew before repolling, its agents skipped the counting centre, and voters described 21 May as the first time they voted without fear — yet Falta's result could still reshape the political narrative in Abhishek Banerjee's Diamond Harbour bastion.
Key Takeaways
Counting for Falta Assembly constituency began at 8 am on 24 May with 21 rounds of counting; result expected by 1 pm .
TMC counting agents were absent from the counting centre; candidate Jahangir Khan had withdrawn a day before the 21 May repolling.
Repolling turnout exceeded 88 per cent and was reported as fully peaceful, in sharp contrast to the original 29 April polling.
The Election Commission of India ordered the repolling after complaints of EVM tampering and voters being blocked from booths on 29 April .
Active candidates are BJP 's Debangshu Panda , CPI(M) 's Shambhu Kurmi , and Congress 's Abdur Razzak .
Falta falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat held by Abhishek Banerjee , who received a 1,20,000-vote lead from this segment in 2024 .
Counting of votes for the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district began at 8 am on Sunday, 24 May, under tight security, following a court-directed repolling held on 21 May. Officials from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, indicated the result would be clear by 1 pm, with a total of 21 rounds of counting scheduled.
Trinamool Agents Absent, Candidate Had Withdrawn
In a significant development, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) counting agents were conspicuously absent from the counting centre. The party's candidate, Jahangir Khan, had withdrawn from the contest just a day before the repolling on 21 May — though the withdrawal was largely symbolic. Khan had participated in the original polling on 29 April, and his name remained active on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) during the repoll, meaning votes cast for him were still counted.
Repolling Turns Peaceful After April Chaos
The repolling on 21 May was described as entirely peaceful by officials and voters alike. Several voters standing in queues that day reportedly said it was the first time they had cast their ballot without intimidation, obstruction, or fear — a stark contrast to the original polling day. The turnout was notably high at over 88 per cent.
The repolling was ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI) following serious irregularities on 29 April, when Falta went to the polls in the second phase of West Bengal's two-phase Assembly elections. Multiple complaints of electoral malpractice were filed, including reports that EVM buttons corresponding to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates were covered with white tape at several booths. Hundreds of voters took to the streets after allegedly being prevented from casting their votes by Khan's supporters.
Special poll observer Subrata Gupta, who also serves as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry. His findings formed the basis of the ECI's order for a full constituency repolling.
Key Candidates and Political Stakes
The BJP candidate in Falta is Debangshu Panda. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has fielded Shambhu Kurmi, while the Indian National Congress (Congress) candidate is Abdur Razzak.
Falta is one of seven Assembly segments under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by Abhishek Banerjee — TMC's general secretary and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — who has won the Lok Sabha seat three times. In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, TMC's Shankar Kumar Nashkar won Falta by a margin of 41,000 votes. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Falta segment gave Abhishek Banerjee a lead of approximately 1,20,000 votes — a margin that opposition parties at the time described as a mockery of the electoral process.
What the Result Could Signal
With TMC's candidate effectively out of the race and the party's agents absent from the counting centre, the contest is now a straight fight among the BJP, CPI(M), and Congress. A BJP win would mark a significant symbolic blow to TMC in a constituency long considered part of Abhishek Banerjee's stronghold. The result is expected to serve as an early indicator of voter sentiment following the widely reported malpractices in the first round of polling.
Point of View
It validates the ECI's intervention and hands the opposition a narrative that free and fair voting in Bengal produces different results. The 88 per cent repolling turnout is the real story — it suggests voters came out precisely because they felt safe, which is an implicit indictment of what happened on 29 April. For Abhishek Banerjee, a loss in a Diamond Harbour segment would be more than symbolic; it would be the first credible data point that his political grip in South 24 Parganas is not as ironclad as the 2024 margins suggested.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was repolling ordered in Falta Assembly constituency?
The Election Commission of India ordered repolling across the entire Falta constituency after widespread complaints of malpractice on 29 April, including reports that EVM buttons for BJP candidates were covered with white tape and that voters were allegedly prevented from voting by supporters of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan. Special poll observer Subrata Gupta's on-ground inquiry confirmed the irregularities.
Why did Trinamool Congress withdraw from the Falta repolling?
TMC candidate Jahangir Khan announced his withdrawal from the contest a day before the 21 May repolling. However, the withdrawal was largely symbolic — Khan had already participated in the original 29 April polling, and his name remained active on the EVM during the repoll. TMC counting agents were also absent on counting day.
Who are the main candidates in the Falta Assembly election?
With TMC's candidate having withdrawn, the active contest is among BJP's Debangshu Panda, CPI(M)'s Shambhu Kurmi, and Congress's Abdur Razzak.
What was the voter turnout during the Falta repolling?
Turnout during the 21 May repolling exceeded 88 per cent. Multiple voters reportedly said it was the first time they had voted without intimidation or obstruction, in contrast to the original polling day on 29 April.
What is the political significance of the Falta Assembly seat?
Falta is one of seven Assembly segments under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, represented by TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. TMC won Falta by 41,000 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections, and the segment gave Banerjee a 1,20,000-vote lead in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls — a margin opposition parties had contested as implausible.
