TMC candidate Jahangir Khan withdrew his nomination for the Falta re-poll in West Bengal, scheduled for May 21. The Election Commission had previously canceled the original polls due to severe electoral offenses.
The Election Commission of India has ordered a complete repoll in West Bengal's Falta Assembly constituency, declaring the April 29 election 'seriously vitiated' due to widespread EVM tampering. At least 60 polling stations (21% of booths) had ballot buttons masked with black tape or substances like perfume, affecting over 53,000 electors. Fresh polling will take place on May 21.
The Election Commission has ordered a repoll in West Bengal's Falta assembly constituency on May 21 after finding severe electoral offences during April 29 voting. EVM buttons were defaced with black masking tape at 60 of 285 polling stations (21%), affecting 53,967 voters. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee challenged the BJP to contest from Falta, calling them the "Bangla Birodhi Gujarati gang". This is the first time in Bengal a full assembly constituency will go to polls after declaration of results. Tension also flared in Hasimnagar locality where villagers alleged threats from TMC candidate's associates, leading to EC ordering arrests of two aides.
The Election Commission has cancelled the April 29 polling in the Falta constituency of West Bengal due to widespread EVM tampering. A repoll is set for May 21, with results to be counted on May 24, marking a rare instance of a full constituency repoll in the state.
The Election Commission has ordered a fresh poll in all 285 polling stations of Falta assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, citing severe electoral offences and subversion of democratic process. The repoll will be held on May 21 with counting on May 24. The BJP had alleged that party symbols on EVMs were taped over at several booths, preventing voters from selecting the BJP option. The move comes amid heightened political tensions between BJP and TMC, with CM Mamata Banerjee predicting a TMC victory with over 200 seats.
The Election Commission has ordered repolling in 15 polling stations across Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour constituencies in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, following the second phase of Assembly elections on April 29. The repolling will take place on May 2 between 7 am and 6 pm. The decision follows allegations of irregularities, particularly in Diamond Harbour's Falta segment, where the BJP alleged EVM buttons were covered with tape to prevent voters from selecting their party. Counting is scheduled for May 4.
West Bengal is on high alert with two days until vote counting. The TMC has challenged a high court order on counting supervisors in the Supreme Court, while the Election Commission ordered repolling in 15 stations due to irregularities. CM Mamata Banerjee visited a strongroom, raising concerns, which the BJP called 'dramabazi'.
With counting days away, West Bengal's electoral landscape has intensified as the ruling TMC approaches the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta HC decision on counting supervisors, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee conducted a four-hour inspection of a strongroom in Bhowanipore. The Election Commission has ordered repolling in 15 booths and imposed prohibitory orders around counting centres, while reports of post-poll violence emerge from multiple districts.
The Trinamool Congress staged a protest in Kolkata, alleging EVM tampering and procedural lapses in strongrooms before the West Bengal assembly polls. The party accused the BJP and Election Commission of collusion, while the EC asserted the strongrooms were secure and footage showed routine postal ballot segregation.
A confrontation broke out between Trinamool Congress and BJP workers at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in central Kolkata late Thursday, with TMC alleging EVM tampering after CCTV footage showed people entering the strongroom. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee camped at a counting centre in Bhowanipore while urging party candidates to maintain round-the-clock vigil until May 4. Election Commission officials denied any tampering, stating the strongroom has three-tier security and the people seen were authorised representatives segregating postal ballots.
The BJP has alleged irregularities during the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections, claiming that party symbols were taped over on EVMs at several polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency. BJP leaders including Suvendu Adhikari and Amit Malviya raised the issue with the Election Commission, which has ordered verification. The West Bengal CEO has stated that if tampering is confirmed, affected booths will go for a repoll. The controversy emerged amid brisk polling across 142 constituencies with nearly 40% turnout by 11 am.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee accused PM Narendra Modi of staging the jhalmuri eating incident during a campaign visit to Jhargram, claiming pre-planned arrangements including security checks and camera installations. She questioned BJP's confidence ahead of polling and raised EVM manipulation concerns. The first phase of polling concluded April 23 with 91.83% voter turnout, while counting is scheduled for May 4.
