Counting Begins in Falta Amid Tight Security, Results Expected by 1 PM

Kolkata, May 24: The counting of votes for the Falta assembly constituency in West Bengal‘s South 24 Parganas district commenced this morning at 8 AM under strict security measures.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the re-polling for the assembly constituency took place on May 21. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal has informed that the counting will occur in a total of 21 phases, with results expected to be clear by 1 PM.

Representatives from the Trinamool Congress were absent at the counting center. The party’s candidate, Jahangir Khan, withdrew his candidacy just before the re-polling on May 21. However, his absence from voting was largely symbolic, as he announced his withdrawal only a day prior and had participated in the initial voting. His name was still listed on the EVM on the re-polling day.

The voting process on May 21 was reported to be completely peaceful. Many voters in line claimed it was the first time they could vote without threats, obstacles, or fear. The voter turnout exceeded 88%.

The candidates for this election include Debanshu Panda from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shambhu Kurmi from CPI(M), and Abdur Razzaq from Congress. In the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, Shankar Kumar Naskar from the Trinamool Congress won Falta by a margin of 41,000 votes.

Falta is one of seven assembly seats under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency. Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress secretary-general and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has served as an MP from this seat three times.

In the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Falta assembly constituency provided Banerjee with a lead of approximately 120,000 votes, which opposition parties criticized as a mockery of the voting process.

Voting for the second phase of the recently concluded assembly elections in the state took place in Falta on April 29.

Numerous complaints of electoral fraud were reported during the elections in Falta on April 29. At several polling stations, EVM buttons related to BJP candidates were covered with white tape. Allegations surfaced that supporters of Jahangir Khan prevented voting, leading hundreds of voters to protest in the streets.

In response, special election observer Subrata Gupta personally visited Falta to investigate the matter. Based on Gupta’s findings, the ECI ordered re-polling across the entire Falta assembly constituency.