Repoll counting in Bengal’s Falta: BJP races ahead while TMC slips to fourth spot in early trends
The Statesman | 25 May 2026
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opened with a commanding lead in the Falta Assembly constituency repoll on Sunday, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) suffered a dramatic setback in the initial counting trends, slipping to the fourth position in a constituency once considered its stronghold. The early numbers from the first round of counting indicated a sharp political shift in the South 24 Parganas seat, where voting was held again amid heightened political attention and tight security arrangements.
According to figures available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, BJP candidate Debnagshi Panda secured 9,534 votes in the opening round, far ahead of the other contenders in the fray.
CPI(M) candidate Sambhunath Kurmi stood in second place with 448 votes, while Congress candidate Abdur Razzak received 225 votes after the first round of counting.
Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan, who had long maintained considerable political influence in the constituency, was pushed to fourth position with only 210 votes in the initial trends.
Even before the completion of counting, BJP workers and supporters gathered outside the counting venue began celebrating the early lead by distributing sweets and raising slogans in support of the party candidate.
Altogether, 21 rounds of counting are scheduled to take place, with election officials expecting a clearer outcome by around 1 pm.
A BJP supporter outside the polling centre claimed that the repoll had witnessed a freer voting atmosphere compared to previous elections in the constituency.
The repoll in Falta gained significance after results for 293 out of West Bengal’s 294 Assembly constituencies were declared on May 4. The BJP registered a sweeping victory across the state by winning 207 seats, while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80 constituencies.
Against that backdrop, the Falta repoll has emerged as a closely watched contest, with the early counting trends indicating a major advantage for the BJP.