The voting for the re-poll in the Falta Assembly constituency of West Bengal concluded on Thursday, 21st May morning, amid tight security arrangements. Voting took place from 7 AM to 6 PM in all polling booths in the South 24 Parganas district. As per the latest trends published by the Election Commission, the report saw a voter turnout of 87.90%.
The turnout in the voting in the constituency on 29th April was around 89%, and it is expected that the number for the repoll will also be similar. The counting of votes will take place on 24th May.
Voters turned out in large numbers for the repoll, a rare incident as generally repolls see a significant drop in turnout numbers. Several voters said that for many years they had been unable to vote independently because of an atmosphere of fear and coercion during previous elections, and this is the first time in decades that they were voting in a free and fair election. Several voters expressed relief at being able to vote without obstruction this time.
“This is the first time in years that we have voted without fear. It finally feels like people can exercise their democratic rights freely,” said one voter. Some people alleged that they had been stopped from voting in earlier elections by supporters allegedly linked to TMC’s Jahangir Khan. They said that during past elections, they were sent back from the polling booths after indelible ink had been applied to their fingers, preventing them from pressing the button on EVM.
Falta saw peaceful voting for the first time in decades during the repolling today, as no major incidents of violence and irregularities were reported. In all past elections, including the cancelled voting on 29th, the constituency witnessed large-scale poll-related violence.
Authorities had put strong security measures in place for the repoll. Around 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) were deployed across the constituency. Officials said eight CAPF personnel, equal to one full section, had been posted at every polling station. Along with this, 30 Quick Response Teams (QRTs) were kept ready to handle any disturbance during voting.
The Election Commission had cancelled the earlier polling held in Falta on 29th April during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections and ordered a complete repoll across the constituency. The decision was taken after reports of voter intimidation, unauthorised people entering polling booths and concerns over possible tampering with EVMs.
Unlike usual repolling which is limited to selected booths in some constituencies, fresh polling was conducted at all 285 polling stations in the 144-Falta Assembly seat.
The Election Commission said the decision was made after reviewing reports of “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process” during the earlier voting. Falta had gone to polls on 29th April, but the entire process was later declared invalid.
Earlier, repolling had also been held in 15 booths of Paschim Magrahat and Diamond Harbour Assembly constituencies. More than 2.36 lakh people are eligible to vote in the constituency this time. The voter list included around 1.15 lakh women electors and nine third-gender voters.
Jahangir Khan remained in contest, didn’t vote
Six candidates, including two independent candidates, are in the fray for the Falta seat. Trinamool Congress nominee Jahangir Khan had announced that he would not contest the election. However, his name remains on the ballot and EVMs because the deadline for withdrawal of nominations had already passed. As this was a repoll, the nominations for the original poll was used, and there was no fresh nominations.
The BJP has fielded Debangshu Panda, the Congress candidate is Abdur Razzak Molla, while CPI(M) has nominated Sambhu Nath Kurmi. TMC candidate Jahangir Khan didn’t vote in the repoll today, and he was not seen in the constituency today. As per reports, both his residence and the local party office were found locked.
TMC has termed the decision of the party candidate as his personal decision and said that it is not the party’s decision.
