West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Voting for a repoll in select booths of the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district continued smoothly on Thursday under tight security arrangements, with no major incidents of disturbance reported during the day.

The Election Commission, voter turnout reached 60.43 percent by 1 PM, indicating strong participation despite the midday heat. From early morning, polling stations witnessed long queues of voters waiting patiently outside booths to exercise their democratic rights.

The polling process remained largely peaceful throughout the first half of the day, with authorities confirming that no significant law and order issues had been reported. Extensive security arrangements were put in place, with both state police and central paramilitary forces deployed across sensitive areas to ensure free and fair voting.

Officials noted that voters continued to arrive steadily even during peak afternoon hours, braving the intense heat to cast their votes. Election observers believe that the turnout could rise further as the day progresses, reflecting strong public engagement in the repolling exercise.

The repoll was ordered following complaints raised after the final phase of the state assembly elections held on April 29. Allegations of irregularities in several booths, including reports of tampering such as ink and tape being found on EVM machines, prompted the Election Commission to intervene and order fresh voting in those locations.

The counting of votes for the Falta constituency is scheduled for May 24, and the final outcome is expected to be closely watched given the earlier controversy surrounding the polling process.