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Fault: Repolling in West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency witnessed a strong voter response on Thursday, with polling officials reporting an estimated turnout of 86.11 per cent till 5 pm.

The fresh election was conducted under extensive security arrangements after the Election Commission countermanded the earlier polling over allegations of EVM tampering and manipulation of surveillance footage.

Officials confirmed that polling remained largely peaceful throughout the day despite heightened political tensions and public scrutiny surrounding the re-election process. Authorities also stated that Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan did not cast his vote during the repoll.

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Repoll Ordered After Electoral Irregularities

The Election Commission had canceled the April 29 polling in the constituency after complaints of large-scale irregularities surfaced from several booths. The commission later described the earlier process as affected by “serious electoral offenses” and concerns over the integrity of the voting process.

Reports had alleged that electronic voting machines were tampered with and that web camera footage from certain polling stations was manipulated. A subsequent inspection reportedly identified suspicious activity in multiple booths, prompting the commission to order fresh voting.

More than 2.36 lakh voters were eligible to participate in the repoll across 285 polling stations in the South 24 Parganas district. The electorate included over 1.15 lakh women voters and several third-gender electors. Voting began at 7 am and continued under strict monitoring.

Security Presence Intensified Across Constituency

To prevent any disturbance, authorities deployed 35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces across the constituency. Officials said security arrangements were significantly upgraded compared to the earlier election, with eight security personnel stationed at every polling booth.

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In addition, Quick Response Teams were positioned at strategic locations to respond immediately to any law-and-order issue. Election authorities maintained close surveillance throughout the day to ensure transparency in the voting process.

Political stakes remain high

Falta has emerged as an important political battleground between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in recent years. Although six candidates remain officially in the race, Jahangir Khan recently announced that he would not actively contest the election, describing it as a personal decision.

The constituency has largely remained under Trinamool Congress influence since 2001, apart from a brief CPI(M) victory in 2006. The outcome of the repoll is now being closely watched as another key test of Bengal’s political climate ahead of future electoral battles.