Falta repolling underway across 285 booths under heavy central forces
Synopsis
The Election Commission of India has ordered a full re-poll across all 285 booths in West Bengal's Falta Assembly seat after BJP candidates' EVM buttons were allegedly covered with white tape on 29 April. With 35 CAPF companies on the ground and results due 24 May, this is one of the most security-intensive single-constituency re-polls in recent West Bengal history.
Key Takeaways
Re-polling in Falta Assembly constituency , South 24 Parganas , began on 21 May 2025 across all 285 polling stations .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the re-poll after allegations that BJP candidates' EVM buttons were covered with white tape during the 29 April vote.
35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed — described as unusually high for a single Assembly seat.
TMC candidate Jahangir Khan announced a withdrawal but will remain on the ballot; the CEO's office confirmed candidate names cannot change in a re-poll.
Voting runs from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm ; results are scheduled for 24 May .
Re-polling in the Falta Assembly constituency of West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district commenced on Thursday, 21 May, with fresh voting being conducted across all 285 polling stations. The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the full constituency re-poll following serious allegations of electoral malpractice during the original vote held on 29 April — part of the second phase of the state's two-phase Assembly elections.
Why Falta Is Going to the Polls Again
During the 29 April polling, multiple complaints surfaced alleging that EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates had been covered with white tape at several booths. Based on findings submitted to the Commission, the ECI took the rare step of ordering a re-poll across the entire constituency — not just select booths — signalling the gravity of the alleged irregularities.
This is one of the few instances in recent West Bengal electoral history where an entire Assembly segment has been sent back to the polls on malpractice grounds.
Security Arrangements: 35 Companies of Central Forces
The re-poll is being conducted under what officials describe as blanket security coverage. According to an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, 35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel have been deployed — a figure described as 'significantly high for a single Assembly constituency.'
'Continuous monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure that every aspect of the polling process remains smooth, all geared towards free, fair and peaceful polling tomorrow,' the CEO's office insider said. Voting is scheduled from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, with results to be declared on 24 May.
TMC Candidate's Withdrawal — And Why It Changes Nothing
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan had on Tuesday announced his decision to withdraw from the contest, citing faith in Chief Minister Adhikari's announced development package for Falta. However, the CEO's office clarified that Khan's name will remain on the ballot and continue to appear on the EVM.
'Polling for the Falta Assembly constituency had already been conducted once on 29 April. On 21 May, it will just be a re-poll. So, nothing else changes, including the candidates contesting from Falta,' the CEO's office insider said. The legal framework governing re-polls does not permit candidate withdrawals at this stage.
What Happens Next
With counting scheduled for 24 May, all eyes will be on whether the re-poll delivers a clean verdict in a seat that has already been marred by controversy. The deployment of central forces at this scale is intended to deter any repeat of the alleged interference that triggered the re-poll in the first place.
Point of View
But it also underscores how fragile poll integrity remains in parts of West Bengal. The alleged white-tape-over-EVM-button tactic, if proven, represents a brazen attempt to suppress voter choice at the machine level. The deployment of 35 CAPF companies for a single seat reflects a trust deficit that administrative orders alone cannot repair. The more revealing test will come on 24 May: whether the re-poll result diverges significantly from the 29 April tally will speak volumes about the scale of the alleged manipulation.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is repolling being held in Falta Assembly constituency?
The Election Commission of India ordered a re-poll in Falta after multiple complaints alleged that EVM buttons corresponding to BJP candidates' names and symbols were covered with white tape at several booths during the original 29 April vote. The ECI found the irregularities serious enough to void polling across all 285 stations in the constituency.
When will the Falta repolling results be declared?
Results for the Falta Assembly constituency re-poll are scheduled to be declared on 24 May 2025. Voting on 21 May runs from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
How many security forces are deployed for the Falta repolling?
35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel have been deployed for the Falta re-poll — a level described by the Chief Electoral Officer's office as significantly high for a single Assembly constituency.
Will TMC's Jahangir Khan appear on the ballot despite announcing withdrawal?
Yes. Although TMC candidate Jahangir Khan announced his withdrawal from the contest, the CEO's office clarified that his name will remain on the EVM. Under the rules governing re-polls, no changes to the candidate list are permitted at this stage.
What was the original polling date for Falta and what went wrong?
Falta was originally polled on 29 April 2025 as part of the second phase of West Bengal's two-phase Assembly elections. Allegations of EVM tampering — specifically, BJP candidates' buttons reportedly covered with white tape — prompted the Election Commission to scrap the results and order a full re-poll.
