Falta repoll: 86% voter turnout by 5 pm, final tally may cross 90%
Synopsis
A re-poll ordered after widespread malpractice complaints produced one of West Bengal's highest single-seat turnouts — over 86% by 5 pm, with the final figure expected to cross 90%. That a constituency where the result cannot shift state power equations still drew such participation is a striking signal about voter confidence in the ECI's security arrangements.
Key Takeaways
Re-polling in Falta Assembly constituency , South 24 Parganas , concluded peacefully at 6 pm on 21 May 2025 .
Voter turnout reached 86.11% by 5 pm ; final figure expected to cross 90% .
35 companies of CAPF were deployed across the constituency's 285 polling booths .
TMC and its candidate Jahangir Khan were largely absent, though Khan's name remained on EVMs despite his withdrawal announcement.
The original poll on 29 April was annulled by the Election Commission of India after widespread malpractice complaints.
Results will be declared on 24 May 2025 .
Re-polling for the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal concluded peacefully at 6 pm on Thursday, 21 May, with no incidents of violence, tension, or electoral malpractice reported across any of the 285 polling booths. The voter turnout stood at a robust 86.11% as of 5 pm, according to statistics from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.
Final Turnout Expected to Cross 90%
An official from the CEO's office indicated that the final polling percentage could surpass the 90% mark, in line with participation levels seen during the two phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections held on 23 April and 29 April. Because some voters were still standing in queues at certain booths when official polling time ended at 6 pm, voting continued at those locations for a short period beyond the deadline.
'It will take some more time to calculate the final polling percentage, which may be declared later in the evening or on Friday morning,' the official said.
Security and Conduct
The re-poll was conducted under a blanket security cover, with 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed across the constituency — a significantly high deployment for a single Assembly segment. An insider from the CEO's office credited the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s tight security arrangements with instilling voter confidence. 'Such a high polling percentage in the case of a re-poll, and that too where the poll outcome is unlikely to alter the power equations in the state under any circumstances, is remarkable,' the official said.
Trinamool Largely Absent; Candidate's Name Still on EVMs
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which was the ruling party in the state, remained largely absent from the polling scene on Thursday, including its candidate Jahangir Khan. Although Khan had announced last week that he was withdrawing from the contest, the announcement was symbolic — his name continued to appear on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Polling agents of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CPI(M), and Congress were present at all booths.
Why the Repoll Was Ordered
The Falta Assembly seat was originally polled on 29 April. Following widespread complaints of electoral malpractices on that day, the Election Commission of India ordered a full re-poll across the entire constituency. The decision to re-poll an entire Assembly segment is relatively rare and underscored the severity of the complaints received. The results of Thursday's re-polling will be declared on 24 May.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was a repoll ordered in Falta Assembly constituency?
The Election Commission of India ordered a full repoll in Falta after widespread complaints of electoral malpractices during the original poll held on 29 April 2025. It is relatively rare for the ECI to order a repoll across an entire Assembly constituency.
What was the voter turnout in the Falta repoll?
Voter turnout stood at 86.11% as of 5 pm on 21 May 2025, with the final figure expected to cross 90% once all queued voters are counted. The final percentage was to be declared later on Thursday evening or Friday morning.
When will the Falta repoll results be declared?
The results of the Falta Assembly repoll will be declared on 24 May 2025.
Why did Trinamool Congress stay away from the Falta repoll?
The TMC and its candidate Jahangir Khan were largely absent from the polling scene on 21 May. Khan had announced his withdrawal from the contest the previous week, though his name continued to appear on the EVMs as the withdrawal was symbolic and not formally processed.
How much security was deployed for the Falta repoll?
35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces were deployed across the constituency's 285 polling booths — a significantly high deployment for a single Assembly segment, credited with ensuring a peaceful and violence-free repoll.
