Falta repoll Updates: 86% turnout till 5 pm; TMC's Jahangir Khan is out of race – All you need to know

The repolling in West Bengal's Falta Assembly seat was held today, 21 May. Voting took place across 285 polling booths. Electors of West Bengal's Falta voted peacefully with over 86.11 per cent polling till 5 pm.

The Election Commission nearly doubled the security arrangements for voting in the assembly seat that was countermanded last month over allegations of large-scale EVM tampering.

As many as eight Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, equivalent to one full section, have been deployed at each polling booth, officials told news agency PTI.

During the April 29 polling that was ultimately countermanded, only four personnel, or half a section, had been stationed at each booth, he added.

"The poll panel does not want to leave any room for irregularities this time. Security arrangements have therefore been significantly strengthened," an official of the poll panel told PTI.

Falta Assembly constituency has 285 polling booths, and around 35 companies of central forces will be deployed to ensure smooth voting, the official said, adding that deployment of security forces for the repoll is nearly double that of the original polling day.

Additionally, 30 quick response teams are on standby to respond swiftly to any disturbance. "The idea is to ensure immediate intervention even in case of minor unrest74% polling till 3 pm," a senior election official said.

86% turnout till 5 pm

Electors of West Bengal's Falta voted peacefully on Thursday with over 86.11 per cent polling till 5 pm in a re-election held under the shadow of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan's dramatic withdrawal from the contest two days earlier, a move widely seen as handing over the ruling BJP a virtual walkover in the politically sensitive constituency.

74% polling till 3 pm

The repoll in the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal on Thursday saw a voter turnout of over 74 per cent till 3 pm.

60% polling till 1 pm; voting peaceful

The repoll in the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal on Thursday saw a voter turnout of over 60 per cent till 1 pm, with no untoward incident reported from anywhere, a poll panel official said.

Around 43% polling in Falta repoll till 11 am

The repoll to the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal on Thursday saw a voter turnout of nearly 43 per cent till 11 am, with no untoward incident reported from anywhere, a poll panel official said.

‘TMC workers used to threaten us’: Voter

A voter, Debashish Ghosh, told PTI that voting in Falta has been completely normal and peaceful. “Everything happened smoothly. I cast my vote properly and felt a sense of peace in my mind that my vote was cast in the right manner.”

However, Ghosh noted that earlier, there were many political issues and political pressure from different parties. “TMC workers used to come to my house and threaten us, telling us to come at a particular time. They were engaging in hooliganism and intimidation.”

‘Situation is much better now’: Congress candidate

“The situation is much better now compared to before. People are coming to cast their votes peacefully and happily,” Congress candidate Abdur Razzak Molla told PTI. “Earlier, during the voting process, there were complaints that some EVM booths had tape placed on them and in some places CCTV cameras were positioned in a suspicious manner. We had raised complaints about these issues with the Election Commission. After the complaints were investigated, repolling was conducted.”

Voter turnout at 9 AM

According to the ECI, the Falta Assembly constituency witnessed a 20.47 per cent voter turnout at 9 AM.

‘Atmosphere is fine, there is no problem’: BJP candidate Debangshu Panda

BJP candidate from Falta assembly constituency, Debangshu Panda told ANI that the atmosphere at the polling booths is fine, “there is no problem”.

“There is a festive atmosphere. Voters are coming, casting their votes, and leaving; it's a good atmosphere. BJP will win...” he said. “People are voting happily, the BJP will win by a margin of more than one and a half lakh.”

Jahangir Khan of TMC pulls out

Trinamool Congress leader Jahangir Khan, popularly dubbed ‘Pushpa,’ withdrew from the Falta re-election race two days before polling, triggering intense political speculation in West Bengal.

While the TMC quickly distanced itself from Khan's decision, calling it his ‘personal choice’ and alleging a post-poll atmosphere of intimidation in Falta, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari mocked the candidate for ‘running away’, claiming he quit after realising he would not even find polling agents on the ground.

Khan, who had become one of the most talked-about faces of the Falta campaign and cultivated a larger-than-life image around his self-styled 'Pushpa' persona of defiance, had repeatedly projected himself as someone who would not bend under pressure.

Technically, Khan's withdrawal may make little difference because the deadline for withdrawing nominations has already passed, and his name will remain on the EVM.

Why re-polling in Falta?

Falta had already emerged as one of the election's most contentious seats after allegations surfaced that perfume, ink and adhesive tape had been used on EVMs in some booths during the April 29 polling. The BJP had cried foul and publicly demanded fresh elections, arguing that developments in the constituency warranted intervention.

The Election Commission subsequently ordered a repoll in Falta even as results for the remaining 293 assembly constituencies had already been declared on 4 May, with the BJP scripting a historic victory and coming to power in West Bengal for the first time.

(With agency inputs)