The Election Commission of India has ordered a complete re-poll across all 285 polling stations in the 144-Falta Assembly Constituency of West Bengal, citing serious electoral offences and what it described as a subversion of the democratic process during the second phase of voting on April 29, 2026.

The fresh polling is scheduled for May 21, from 7 AM to 6 PM. Counting of votes will be held on May 24, a day after the rest of West Bengal declares results on May 4.

Ground Tensions Run High

Residents in Falta alleged that TMC workers threatened and attacked voters after polling concluded on April 29. Several people sustained injuries to their legs, arms and heads. Locals staged a road blockade in protest, demanding action against those responsible. Heavy police and central forces were subsequently deployed in the area to restore order.

Following the Falta incident, the Election Commission issued directions to arrest TMC leaders Israfil Chokdar and Sujauddin Sheikh along with their associates, accusing them of threatening and intimidating voters.

Repolling Elsewhere Records High Turnout

Meanwhile, repolling was held on Saturday at 15 booths across two constituencies — four in Diamond Harbour and eleven in Magrahat West. Overall voter turnout stood at 90.61 percent. Magrahat West recorded 89.29 percent while Diamond Harbour came in at 91.77 percent, despite brief tension at one booth when an EVM malfunction halted voting for nearly an hour.

Political Blame Game Intensifies

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP was misleading the public through fake exit polls, claiming she had evidence to back the charge. TMC's Abhishek Banerjee went further, saying the party would win more seats than it did in 2021 and warned that election observers found engaging in what he called anti-constitutional conduct would face legal consequences.

BJP leaders pushed back sharply. UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya welcomed the repolling order and predicted a crushing defeat for TMC. BJP's Keya Ghosh said the commission's decision to order fresh polling reflected the deeper rot in West Bengal's electoral process.

Strong Room Row Adds to Tensions

Separately, concerns over strong room security have surfaced across Kolkata. TMC's Shashi Panja alleged that postal ballot trunks from seven North Kolkata constituencies arrived around 4 AM without party representatives present, and that the storage area lacked CCTV coverage at the time. Congress candidate Ashutosh Chatterjee also alleged that an unidentified person without a valid identity card was found inside a strong room in Rashbehari, and has filed a formal complaint with the EC.

The Supreme Court on Saturday dismissed a TMC plea challenging the appointment of central government and PSU employees as counting supervisors, a setback for the ruling party ahead of results day.

West Bengal recorded an overall voter turnout of 92.84 percent across both phases — 93.19 percent in the first phase on April 23, and 92.48 percent in the second phase on April 29.