Kolkata, May 24 IANS) Counting has begun for the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district from 8 a.m. on Sunday amid tight security arrangements. The repolling for the Assembly Constituency, as per the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI), was conducted on May 21. There will be a total of 21 rounds of counting, and according to the insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the result will be absolutely clear by 1 p.m.
The Trinamool Congress counting agents were absent from the counting centre. The party candidate, Jahangir Khan, withdrew from the contest immediately before the repolling on May 21. However, his staying away from voting was merely symbolic since he made the announcement just a day before the repoll and had participated in the first polling. His name continued to be active on the EVM on the repolling day. The polling process on May 21 was absolutely peaceful. Many voters, standing in queues on that day, claimed
that this was the first time that they could vote peacefully without intimidation, obstruction and fear. The polling percentage was quite high at over 88 per cent. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in Falta is Debangshu Panda, the CPI(M) candidate is Shambhu Kurmi, and the Congress candidate is Abdur Razzak. In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress’ Shankar Kumar Nashkar was elected by a margin of 41,000 votes from Falta, which is one of the seven Assembly constituencies under the Diamond
Harbour Lok Sabha constituency. Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress’ general secretary and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, has represented this seat three times. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Falta Assembly constituency gave Banerjee a lead margin of around 1,20,000 votes, which opposition parties described as a mockery of the polling process. Polling for the Falta Assembly constituency was conducted on April 29 in the second phase of the recently concluded two-phase Assembly polls in the state. On April 29, several complaints of electoral malpractices were reported
in Falta. At several polling booths, the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were covered with white tape. Hundreds of voters took to the streets after they were not allowed to vote, allegedly by Jahangir Khan’s supporters. Subsequently, special poll observer Subrata Gupta, currently serving as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry. Based on Gupta’s findings, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered repolling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency.
Falta Assembly constituency, West Bengal counting, repoll May 21, Election Commission of India, tight security, Trinamool Congress agents absent, Jahangir Khan, Debangshu Panda, Shambhu Kurmi, Abdur Razzak, Shankar Kumar Nashkar, Abhishek Banerjee, Subrata Gupta, Suvendu Adhikari
So counting started at 8am but result by 1pm?? That seems quick, like they already knew.
They said it was peaceful this time and no intimidation… sure. The part about tape over EVM buttons sounds insane though. Who even thought that was ok?
Wait Jahangir Khan withdrew but his name still showed on the EVM? That’s like election fraud 101. Or maybe the system just didn’t update? Either way that whole thing feels fake.
21 rounds of counting is wild, why so many?? Also TMC agents staying away sounds shady, but maybe they just got confused? And didn’t Mamata’s guy win last time by 41k… so if it’s ‘clear by 1pm’ I’m not buying it.