Election Commission Cancels Polling in Bengal’s Falta Constituency Due to EVM Tampering

Bengal’s electoral outcome will now be decided on 293 seats after the Election Commission cancelled the April 29 polling in south Kolkata’s Falta constituency, citing “electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process”. A repoll has been scheduled for May 21, with counting on May 24.

This is the 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. The Election Commission said an inquiry into complaints found widespread tampering of EVMs at multiple booths.

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, representing 22.8% of the 2.36 lakh electorate. “This compromised the integrity of recorded votes and made it impossible to ascertain the mandate,” the Commission said, adding that gaps in video footage meant similar tampering elsewhere in Falta could not be ruled out.

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 the Diamond Harbour subdivision, rushed to the area as residents complained of inaction. Security was stepped up with the deployment of state police and central forces. The Commission later ordered the arrest of two of Khan’s aides, Izrafil Chokdar and Sujauddin Sheikh. The countermanding removes Falta from the upcoming count, tightening focus on the remaining seats that will determine the next government.