EC orders fresh poll on Falta Assembly seat

Voting on May 21 on all 285 booths, counting on May 24; 87% voting in Saturday repoll

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday ordered repoll in all 285 polling booths of the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on May 21 after flagging “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process” during voting held on April 29.

In its directive, the poll body said irregularities were reported across a large number of polling stations, prompting the decision to nullify the earlier exercise and conduct fresh polling in all booths.

According to the schedule announced, fresh polling will be held on May 21, between 7 am and 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on May 24.

“On consideration of severe electoral offences and subversion of democratic process during the polling in a large number of polling stations on April 29 in Falta Assembly Constituency, EC directs that a fresh poll shall be conducted in all the 285 polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, repolling on Saturday in 15 booths of two Assembly constituencies in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district concluded at 6 pm on Saturday, with around 87 per cent turnout recorded an hour before the close of voting, an official said.

A voter turnout of 86.90 per cent was recorded till 5 pm, with the figure from one booth still awaited, he said. Voting began at 7 am and continued till 6 pm. Polling was more or less peaceful at 11 polling booths of Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour. The Election Commission had ordered a repoll on Friday, following reports of electoral malpractices.

However, in booth number 179 at Chanda Primary School of the Diamond Harbour seat, the Trinamool Congress alleged that a voter and his mother were harassed by central forces. The incident sparked protests by party workers and locals.

The TMC claimed that the voter’s mother, who had entered the booth to assist him, and her son were detained for a considerable time by central forces over alleged rule violations.

Polling was otherwise peaceful across 15 booths, he said.

The Commission said that every person standing in the queue before the close of polling hours would be permitted to vote.

Magrahat Paschim registered 86.11 per cent voter turnout, while in Diamond Harbour, the figure was 87.60 per cent, the official said.

Voting in these two assembly constituencies was held in the second phase of the assembly elections on April 29.

The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and “material circumstances”, he said.

In Magrahat Paschim, TMC’s Md Samim Ahamed Molla is pitted against BJP nominee Goursundar Ghosh, while Abdul Majid Halder of the Congress and ISF candidate Abdul Aziz Al Hassan are also in the fray.

TMC candidate Panna Lal Halder is contesting against Dipak Kumar Halder of the BJP in the Diamond Harbour seat. Goutam Bhattacharya of the Congress and CPI(M)’s Samar Naiya are among other candidates.

The BJP had alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations of both the Assembly seats under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

The EC had deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations from the ground.

The poll panel will decide on repolling in the Falta assembly constituency on Saturday.

The West Bengal assembly elections were held in two phases - April 23 and April 29 - amid unprecedented security arrangements.

Counting of votes will take place on May 4.