Falta poll annulled as Election Commission orders full repoll
- ECI declares April 29 polling in Falta constituency “vitiated” after complaints
- Fresh voting ordered across all 285 polling stations, an uncommon step
- Allegations include EVM tampering, intimidation and proxy voting
- Repoll scheduled for May 21, with counting on May 24
- Heightened security and local protests reported ahead of new vote
The Election Commission of India has cancelled the April 29 polling in the Falta Assembly constituency of West Bengal, citing serious irregularities that it said undermined the integrity of the electoral process. The decision, announced on May 2, orders a complete repoll across all polling stations in the constituency.
The action follows multiple complaints raised during the second phase of voting, with allegations ranging from electronic voting machine interference to voter intimidation. Officials said that the scale of reported violations required intervention beyond limited booth-level repolling.
According to the Commission’s order, fresh polling will be conducted at all 285 polling stations in the constituency on May 21. The counting of votes for Falta has been scheduled separately for May 24, placing it outside the main counting exercise for the rest of the state.
The controversy began on polling day, when opposition parties and local residents reported irregularities involving voting machines. Among the claims were that adhesive materials had been applied to ballot unit buttons, potentially affecting voter choice. Authorities have not publicly detailed the findings but indicated that evidence of tampering was identified during inspection.
Additional complaints included allegations of intimidation by groups near polling areas and instances of voters being accompanied in ways that could compromise ballot secrecy. These claims remain subject to official verification, and detailed investigative findings have not yet been fully disclosed.
In its statement, the Commission described the polling process in Falta as having been “vitiated” by electoral offences. Officials said the presence of irregularities across multiple locations made it difficult to isolate the impact to individual booths, leading to the decision for a constituency-wide repoll.
The development has altered the election timeline. While results for the remaining 293 constituencies are being counted on May 4, the final composition of the 294-member Assembly will not be known until the Falta results are declared later in the month.
On the ground, reports indicate protests in parts of the constituency, including areas where residents have demanded stronger security arrangements for the repoll. Authorities have increased deployment of central forces in the region, with officials stating that measures are being taken to ensure orderly voting conditions.
Political reactions have been sharply divided. Leaders of the Trinamool Congress have rejected the allegations and described the decision as unwarranted, while opposition parties have termed the episode a serious breach of electoral norms and called for strict accountability.
The Commission has not indicated whether further action will be taken against individuals or officials linked to the reported violations. The focus, according to officials, remains on conducting a fresh poll under enhanced supervision.
The Falta case stands out as one of the most significant interventions in the current election cycle, highlighting concerns over polling integrity and the mechanisms available to address disputed results.