Falta assembly constituency in West Bengal is voting again today after the Election Commission ordered a repoll amid alleged irregularities and tightened security arrangements across all booths.
Kolkata: West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency goes for repolling today, May 21, after the Election Commission ordered fresh voting citing alleged irregularities and “subversion of the democratic process”.
The high-stakes repoll comes with significantly enhanced security arrangements and strict monitoring measures.
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Why Falta is voting again
The Election Commission ordered a repoll in Falta after a special observer flagged serious irregularities during the April 29 polling. According to the report, multiple polling stations showed issues such as missing CCTV footage, allegations of voter intimidation, and reported instances of proxy voting.
Officials noted that in several booths, surveillance footage was unavailable during key voting hours, making it difficult to verify complaints of malpractice. The observer’s report concluded that dozens of polling stations were affected, leading to the decision for fresh voting.
Massive security deployment for repoll
To prevent any repeat of irregularities, the Election Commission has nearly doubled security arrangements for today’s voting. Around eight Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel have been deployed at each polling booth, compared to four during the earlier phase.
In total, about 35 companies of central forces have been deployed across Falta’s 285 polling stations. In addition, 30 quick response teams have been kept on standby to handle any law-and-order situation during the day.
Officials said the aim is to ensure “zero interference” and allow voters to cast their ballots freely.
Surveillance tightened with cameras and drones
This time, the Election Commission has also significantly upgraded monitoring systems. Two web cameras have been installed inside every polling booth and one outside, with live webcasting enabled for real-time monitoring.
Voting will be supervised from both the District Election Officer’s office and the Chief Electoral Officer’s control room. Authorities are also considering drone surveillance to strengthen oversight across sensitive areas.
Ahead of the repoll, Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan withdrew from the race, citing political and constituency-level developments, including a special package announcement for Falta.
His withdrawal has added a new political dimension to the repoll, though officials confirmed that voting will proceed as scheduled.
Political battle intensifies
The repoll has turned into a major political contest between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP candidate Debangshu Panda has expressed confidence of a large-margin victory, while TMC leaders have highlighted development promises and voter sentiment in the region.
West Bengal’s political leadership has also intensified campaigning, with announcements of job assurances and development packages adding to the pre-poll momentum.
Despite the controversy and political tension, polling is underway across all 285 booths under tight security. Authorities have emphasised that ensuring free and fair voting is the top priority, with strict surveillance measures in place throughout the day.
The outcome of the repoll is expected to be closely watched, given the allegations that led to the annulment of the earlier voting process and the unusually heavy security deployment this time.
Published: 21 May 2026, 08:07 am IST
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