TMC's Abhishek Banerjee Challenges BJP to Contest Falta After EC Orders Repoll Over EVM Tampering

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday lashed out at Bharatiya Janata Party and Election Commission after fresh polling was announced in the Falta assembly constituency following reports of "severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process" during the second phase of polling on April 29.

Reacting to BJP leader Amit Malviya's social media post on X, the TMC MP from Diamond Harbour challenged "Bangla Birodhi Gujarati gang" to contest from Falta.

"10lifetimes won't be enough for your Bangla Birodhi Gujarati gang and their stooge Gyanesh Kumar to put even a dent in my DIAMOND HARBOUR MODEL. Bring everything you have got. I challenge the entire Union of India--Come to Falta," Banerjee wrote in a social media post on X.

"Send your strongest, send one of the godfathers from Delhi. If you have got the nerve, contest in Falta," he added.

The poll body on Saturday announced a repoll in Falta on May 21, with counting on May 24. BJP's co-incharge of West Bengal, Amit Malviya, had alleged that voters were prevented from choosing the party candidate at several polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency during phase two of the assembly elections.

Buttons were defaced with black masking tape and ink, affecting 60 of 285 polling stations — 21% of the constituency. These booths accounted for 53,967 voters (22.8% of the 2.36 lakh electorate).

“This compromised the integrity of recorded votes and made it impossible to ascertain the mandate,” EC said, adding gaps in video footage meant similar tampering elsewhere in Falta could not be ruled out.

This is first time in Bengal where a full assembly constituency will go to the polls after the declaration of results. In India, only Bihar had the precedence.

EC said an inquiry into complaints found widespread tampering of EVMs at multiple booths.

Meanwhile, tension flared in Hasimnagar, a locality within Falta along the Hooghly river corridor, where villagers alleged threats from associates of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan. Police observer Ajaypal Sharma, a DIG overseeing Diamond Harbour subdivision on the city's southern fringe, rushed to the area as residents complained of inaction. Security was stepped up with deployment of state police and central forces.

EC later ordered the arrest of two of Khan's aides, Izrafil Chokdar and Sujauddin Sheikh.

The countermanding removes Falta from Monday's count, tightening focus on the remaining seats that will determine the next govt.