‘Changed’ Falta votes without fear even as repoll sees 4% drop in turnout

Falta/Kolkata: The repoll in the Falta assembly constituency on Thursday recorded a turnout of 87.9% till 8 pm, with no reports of violence or untoward incidents, according to a senior Election Commission (EC) official. Falta registered a 91.8% turnout during the original polling on April 29, which was later countermanded by the EC over allegations of widespread irregularities."The high percentage of voting witnessed in Falta is unprecedented for a repoll. Generally, voter turnout in repolls or by-elections tends to be lower than regular polling day. However, in the Falta repoll, the commission's campaign encouraging public participation appears to have resonated with voters, who turned up at polling booths in a festive mood," Dibyendu Das, Bengal additional CEO, said. Counting of votes will take place on Sunday.Across Falta, voters described a markedly different atmosphere from previous elections, with heavy deployment of CAPF personnel. Several voters said they felt free to vote without intimidation for the first time in years. "There are around 15 CAPF personnel here. Another 20-odd with two armoured Marksmen vehicles from J&K are standing on the main road. But more importantly, there are no bikers, there are no men who are keeping a watch on you at the booth," said voter Firoza Bibi.Nowhere was the changed mood more visible than at Srirampur, home turf of Trinamool's Jahangir Khan, who withdrew from the contest 48 hours before polling. The booths around Khan's residence saw brisk voting, though the absence of Trinamool flags stood out sharply against the banners of rival parties.Yet, in belts where minority votes hold sway like Gopalpur, Bapra and Rukhia — areas closer to Morgrahat where TMC still holds some ground — the whispers to vote for an independent candidate, with the Apple symbol, was far too loud to be missed. Voting in these areas remained considerably low.Locals said the Falta TMC office, from where Jahangir operated even on April 29—the day of actual polling—had not opened. Located barely 250 metres from his residence, TOI found a group of BJP activists kicking and vandalising it around noon.For many younger voters, the repoll carried emotional significance. At Chaberia, 23-year-old Alia Das said Thursday's election felt unlike any she had experienced before. "For the first time since 2021, this election felt like a festival. In 2021, some bikers said I was under watch and that I must not try to be adventurous," said Das.At Hashimnagar — the epicentre of the unrest that eventually prompted the EC to order a repoll — turnout remained below 50% till early afternoon. Yet many residents there appeared convinced that the political tide had already turned. "Do not worry. The war has been won already. Jahangir is out of the race," said grocery shop owner Namita Hazra.BJP candidate Debangshu Panda claimed his party was heading for a landslide victory. "Our party had set a 1 lakh margin. But seeing the festival of democracy around me, I am sure we will cross that margin. It is proven that Abhishek Banerjee's Diamond Harbour model, built on terror and intimidation, has been crushed," Panda told TOI.