"People voted freely for first time": BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato on Falta repoll
Sout, h 24
Parganas, May 24: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato on Sunday claimed that voters were able to exercise their franchise freely for the first time in West Bengal during the Falta Assembly constituency re-poll, asserting that "democracy has returned" in the state.
His remarks come amid the ongoing counting of votes for the 144-Falta Legislative Assembly constituency re-poll in West Bengal.
Speaking to ANI, he said, "This time, people have voted freely for the first time... After some time, the results will be out. Wait for some time..."
He further alleged a lack of democratic process in previous elections in West Bengal, adding, "Today democracy has returned to West Bengal under the leadership of CM Suvendu Adhikari... You can ask anyone about the situation here in the last ten years. There were no elections as people were not allowed to vote. This was their Diamond model."
Meanwhile, the counting of votes for the high-stakes Falta Assembly constituency repoll in West Bengal has taken a decisive turn. BJP candidate Debangshu Panda has established a commanding lead as officials move through the 21 scheduled rounds of counting under heavy institutional security.
According to the Election Commission of India, as of 2:30 pm, Panda is maintaining a strong lead, securing 111,270 votes, accounting for 68.57% of the total vote share after the 16th round of counting out of 21. Sambhu Nath Kurmi of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is placed second with 34,873 votes (21.49%), followed by Abdur Razzak Molla of the Indian National Congress with 9,284 votes (5.72%).
Jahangir Khan of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), who had announced his withdrawal from the contest before the repoll, is in fourth position with 5,319 votes (3.28%).
The repoll in Falta was ordered after irregularities were reported during polling in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, which were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
The BJP formed its first government in West Bengal after winning 207 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections, with Suvendu Adhikari taking oath as Chief Minister.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Let's wait for the final result before celebrating. But if what the MP says is true, this is a huge blow to the old political mafia in Bengal. People deserve the right to choose without fear. 👏
Promising signs, but we must ensure this isn't a one-off. The entire state needs free elections. Let's see if the counting stays clean. Also, TMC voters staying away shows how broken trust has become.
I'm cautiously optimistic. 'Democracy returned' sounds dramatic, but if people truly voted freely after a decade, that's progress. My concern now: Will this lead to real change in governance or just another power shift?
Impressive lead by BJP candidate in Falta! 68% vote share shows clear mandate. Seems the repoll did give people a genuine voice. Hope this sets a precedent for other constituencies too.
One repoll won't fix everything. Bengal's democracy needs systemic change—stronger EC, neutral police, and end to political violence. But yes, this is a start. BJP has to deliver on their promises now. 🤞
Interesting to see CPI(M) still holding second place. But BJP's
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.