West Bengal Assembly election: EC orders re-poll at all 285 booths in Falta constituency
West Bengal Assembly elections were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Repolling is being conducted in select booths after the Election Commission ordered fresh voting following reports of irregularities and allegations of booth capturing. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
by Zee Media Bureau · Zee NewsThe Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday said that fresh polls will be conducted in all 285 polling stations in the 144-Falta Assembly Constituency, citing severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during polling at a large number of polling stations on April 29, 2026. ECI said that the election will be held on May 21, between 7 am and 6 pm, while counting of votes will take place on May 24.
This development comes as repolling for 15 polling booths under two Assembly constituencies in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal was held on Saturday. Repolling was conducted across 11 polling booths in Magrahat Paschim Assembly and 4 booths in the Diamond Harbour Assembly. Repolling was ordered after reports and allegations surfaced regarding irregularities and booth capturing during the second phase of the election on April 29.
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BJP's allegations
BJP's West Bengal co-incharge, Amit Malviya, had alleged that miscreants were taping the BJP candidate button, thereby preventing voters from choosing the party candidate at several polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency during phase two of the Assembly elections in the State. Malviya termed it as ‘Diamond Harbour Model,’ and alleged that the model helped Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat.
In a post on X, Malviya wrote, “This is what Mamata Banerjee was defending when she spoke up for Jehangir Khan, a criminal contesting on a TMC ticket from Falta in Diamond Harbour. In several polling booths, the option to vote for the BJP has been blocked using a tape, effectively preventing voters from exercising their choice. This is the so-called ‘Diamond Harbour Model,’ the same template that helped Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee secure his Lok Sabha seat.”
West Bengal elections 2026
West Bengal Assembly elections were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Repolling is being conducted in select booths after the Election Commission ordered fresh voting following reports of irregularities and allegations of booth capturing. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Most exit polls have projected the BJP as the frontrunner in the state. Chanakya Strategies projected the BJP winning 150–160 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, giving it a majority on its own, while the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) was projected to win 30–40 seats and others six to 10 seats.
Exit Poll Projections
| Agency | BJP Seats | TMC Seats | Congress | Left | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrize | 146–161 | 125–140 | - | - | 6–10 |
| JVC | 138–159 | 131–152 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| P-Marq | 150–175 | 118–138 | - | - | 2–6 |
| People Pulse | 95–100 | 177–187 | 1–3 | 0–1 | - |
| Poll Diary | 142–147 | 99–127 | 3–5 | 2–3 | 0–1 |
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed the exit polls, saying they are an attempt to manipulate the stock market and that similar tactics have been used earlier as well. She also expressed confidence that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will emerge victorious in the ongoing Assembly elections, winning over 200 seats.
(With ANI inputs)
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