EC announces repolling in all booths across Bengal's Falta constituency on May 21

In an official statement, the Election Commission said that repolling will take place in all 285 booths across Falta Assembly Consitituency on May 24. The move came after the BJP alleged large-scale EVM tampering in the area.

In Short

• All 285 Falta booths will undergo fresh polling, results on May 24
• Decision followed 'severe electoral offences', irregularities
• Repolling concluded across 15 booths in 2 Bengal districts today

The Election Commission of India on Saturday ordered repolling across all polling booths in West Bengal's Falta Assembly constituency after flagging "severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process" during voting held on April 29.

In its directive, the poll body said irregularities were reported across a large number of polling stations, prompting the decision to nullify the earlier exercise and conduct fresh polling in all booths.

The poll panel has said that fresh voting will take place at all 285 polling stations, including auxiliary booths, in the constituency. According to the schedule announced, fresh polling will be held on May 21, between 7 am and 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on May 24.

"On consideration of severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during the polling in a large number of polling stations on 29th April 2026 in 144-Falta Assembly Constituency, West Bengal, the ECI directs that a fresh poll shall be conducted in all the 285 polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations," Election Commission said in an official statement.

The announcement cames hours after the constituency in South 24 Parganas district witnessed massive protests by locals who alleged panchayat pradhan Israfil, a close associate of TMC candidate Jehangir Khan, issued them threats of violence and arson after poll results are announced on May 4.

Hundreds of villagers staged a protest demanding safety arrangements after the counting of votes and called for repolling in the area. A large number of protesters, including women carrying BJP flags, blocked a road in Hasimnagar village as tensions escalated locally.

Central Reserve Police Force personnel were deployed in strength soon after and reached the spot, assuring residents that adequate security measures would be in place.

Earlier in the day, repolling was conducted across 15 polling booths in Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim after the Election Commission declared voting at the affected stations void, acting on reports submitted by Returning Officers and Observers.

The move came amid at least 77 complaints received by the ECI alleging EVM-related irregularities during the second phase of the West Bengal elections.

Officials said some complaints pointed to deliberate tampering, including instances where buttons linked to a particular political party were allegedly covered with adhesive tape or marked with ink, preventing voters from casting their choice. In other cases, substances like attar were reportedly applied on EVM buttons, making it possible to identify voters based on which option they pressed.

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