West Bengal remained tense on Saturday as repolling, protests, and political manoeuvring unfolded across South 24 Parganas, just days before counting. Voting was largely peaceful in most booths, but allegations of harassment and intimidation kept tempers high.
The day also saw unrest spill onto the streets in Falta, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a strategy huddle with party workers, projecting confidence of a decisive victory. Later in the day, the Election Commission announced repolling in Falta on May 21 and said that on May 4, results will be declared for 293 seats in West Bengal.
The developments came ahead of the May 4 counting, with both Trinamool Congress and the BJP trading charges over electoral conduct.
Bengal Elections: Key Developments
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In a rare move, Election Commission has ordered a fresh poll across all 285 polling stations of the Falta Assembly seat on May 21, citing “subversion of the democratic process”. Counting will be held on May 24.
Repolling across 15 booths in Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour concluded at 6 pm on Saturday, with turnout touching around 90 per cent. Voting, held from 7 am, was largely peaceful in 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour. Till 5 pm, turnout stood at 86.90 per cent, with one booth’s figure awaited.
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At booth number 179 in Chanda Primary School under Diamond Harbour, the Trinamool Congress alleged that a specially abled voter and his mother were harassed by central forces, triggering protests by party workers and locals.
The Election Commission maintained that all voters present in queues before the close of polling would be allowed to cast their votes.
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In Hasimnagar village of Falta, hundreds of villagers, many of them women holding BJP flags, blocked roads for over seven hours, alleging life threats from TMC workers after results. They accused local panchayat pradhan Israfil, a close aide of TMC candidate Jehangir Khan, of issuing warnings of attacks. Three people were arrested.
The poll panel is yet to decide on repolling in the Falta assembly constituency. A CRPF deputy commandant later visited the area with forces and an armoured vehicle, assuring safety.
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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with Abhishek Banerjee, told party counting agents that the TMC would secure over 200 of the 294 seats. She urged workers to ignore BJP claims and exit polls, calling them ‘propaganda’. She also said party workers allegedly assaulted by central forces would be financially compensated.
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