The Election Commission has nearly doubled the security arrangements for the May 21 repoll in West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency that was countermanded last month over allegations of large-scale EVM tampering, a senior poll panel official said on Wednesday (May 20, 2026).
On May 19, Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan declared that he would not contest the Thursday (May 21) repoll. The TMC described Khan’s decision as “personal” and not that of the party.
Technically Khan cannot withdraw his candidature as the official date of doing so had expired much before the actual date of polling in Falta. The election was held in Falta on April 29 during the second phase of assembly polls in West Bengal, whereas the last date of withdrawal of candidature for the second phase was April 13.
The BJP has fielded Debangshu Panda against Khan from the seat.
Tension has been high in the constituency since polling on April 29, when complaints surfaced from multiple booths alleging that perfume and adhesive tapes had been applied to EVMs.
According to an official at the state Chief Electoral Officer, eight Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, equivalent to one full section, will be deployed at each polling booth.
During the April 29 polling that was ultimately countermanded, only four personnel, or half a section, had been stationed at each booth, he added.
Falta Assembly constituency has 285 polling booths, and around 35 companies of central forces will be deployed to ensure smooth voting, the official said, adding that deployment of security forces for the repoll would be nearly double that of the original polling day.
Additionally, 30 quick response teams will remain on standby to respond swiftly to any disturbance. “The idea is to ensure immediate intervention even in case of minor unrest,” a senior election official said.
The poll panel has also intensified surveillance measures, he said. Two web cameras will be installed inside every polling booth and one outside, while live webcasting will cover the polling process and surrounding areas.
“Monitoring will be conducted from the offices of the District Election Officer (DEO) and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO),” he said, adding that drone surveillance is also being considered for the repoll day.
“Three election observers have been assigned to supervise the repoll process,” the officer further stated.
