Re-polling begins for Bengal's Falta Assembly constituency
Kolkata, May 21
Re-polling commenced for Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal from 7 a.m. on Thursday under a blanket security coverage provided by the 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces personnel, a number significantly high for a single constituency.
The polling process had been peaceful till the time the report was filed.
With Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan announcing his withdrawal from the contest recently, political observers feel that a victory in the Falta re-polling has now become a cakewalk for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which, if won, would thus improve the party's tally in the West Bengal Assembly to 208.
Last week, Khan announced his decision to withdraw from the contest, expressing solidarity with the new development package for Falta as announced by the new and ninth Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari.
However, the CEO's office clarified that, irrespective of Khan's announcement, his name would remain as a Trinamool Congress candidate in the re-poll and continue to appear on the EVM.
"Polling for the Falta Assembly constituency had already been conducted once on April 29. On May 21, it will just be a re-poll. So, nothing else changes, including the candidates contesting from Falta," the CEO's office insider said.
Observers suggest that it will be interesting to see whether the vote percentages for the CPI(M) and Congress candidates in the Falta Assembly seat improve, remain the same, or decline compared to the previous elections.
On April 29, several complaints of alleged electoral malpractices emerged from Falta. At several polling booths, the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape.
Subsequently, special poll observer Subrata Gupta, currently serving as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry into the allegations.
Based on Gupta's findings, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered re-polling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm from Bengal and this is getting ridiculous. Candidate withdraws but his name stays on EVM? What's the point of withdrawal then? And all this drama over one constituency while people are struggling with Covid. Focus on actual issues please.
Seems like the BJP is getting a free pass here. The TMC candidate withdrawing after the CM changed sides? That's not democracy, that's political manipulation. And 35 companies of central forces for one constituency? Overkill much?
West Bengal politics is like a daily soap these days. Suvendu Adhikari's package for Falta, TMC candidate withdrawing, now re-poll. Meanwhile, Left and Congress are nowhere in the picture. Sad to see the state of democracy in our country. Need stronger opposition.
I applaud the EC for taking action on the tape incident. But the bigger issue is how easily candidates switch sides based on packages and promises. Where is the ideology? Where is accountability to voters? Just chaos all around. 😔
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