West Bengal Elections 2026: Falta Repoll on May 21, Counting Scheduled for 293 Seats
As West Bengal prepared for vote counting on Monday in the high-stakes contest between the ruling TMC and the Opposition BJP, the Election Commission of India on Saturday ordered repolling in the Falta Assembly constituency. The fresh polling will take place on May 21, while counting of votes for that seat has been scheduled for May 24.
This means West Bengal election results will be declared on Monday for 293 of the 294 Assembly seats.
The ECI, in a release, said it was ordering fresh polls “in all the 285 polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations” of the Falta constituency after examining reports of “severe electoral offences and subversion of democratic process during polling in a large number of polling stations” on April 29.
Also Read | EC orders repolling in West Bengal's Falta seat on May 21, cites 'severe electoral offences'
Also on Saturday, repolling was held in 15 booths spread across two Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas district.
Dismissing a TMC appeal against the High Court’s April 30 order, the bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi declined to issue any further direction after EC counsel Senior Advocate D S Naidu said the TMC’s concerns were “completely misplaced”. He also said the poll body was implementing its April 13 circular, which provides for the inclusion of state government employees in the counting process.
“No further orders are necessary…except to reiterate the statement of Senior Advocate D S Naidu that the circular dated April 13, 2026 will be implemented in true letter and spirit,” the bench said.
Responding to this, Naidu said, “The returning officer has the overarching power and is from the state government… And everything happens under his supervision. He picks up by way of randomisation, both the counting supervisor and also the counting assistant. And we have alternated in such a way that if the first one is from the Central government, the other is from the state government and vice versa.”
He added, “Thereafter, each candidate will have his own agents. If there are 10 tables, there will be 10 agents. They will be just watching the proceedings… It’s a completely misplaced apprehension.”
At the very beginning of the hearing, Sibal said the circular appointing Central government employees had been issued to district electoral officers on April 13, but “we came to know of it only on April 29”.
He said, “These things don’t happen. On the contrary, advance notice is given. There are meetings with the DEOs every two days. They don’t tell us anything about it.”
He argued that the circular itself clearly stated that a state government nominee should also be included. “They don’t appoint. Article 324 is not a wild horse,” he said.
Article 324 gives the Election Commission the power of superintendence, direction and control of elections.
Sibal further said, “They want another Central government nominee because they fear a possible irregularity. That’s pointing a finger at the state government.”
On concerns over possible irregularities during vote counting, Justice Bagchi said, “That’s a subjective satisfaction.”
Sibal also questioned why the Election Commission had not communicated the appointment of Central government employees to the state.
Justice Bagchi pointed out that the circular had already been issued and there was no requirement to consult political parties.
He further said that even if the circular had stated that both the counting agent and counting supervisor would be Central government employees, “still then, we could not have faulted them because” the relevant clause “says the pool of counting supervisor and counting agent will be from Class B and Class C… of either the state government or the Central government. So to choose from only one pool cannot be said to be incorrect. It’s within jurisdiction.”
In a press release, the TMC said, “After hearing the parties, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed that Clause 1 of the communication dated 13.04.2026, relating to the appointment of Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants, must be read along with the salient feature contained in the second page of the said communication which provides for random selection of both State Government and Central Government employees.”
“It is expected that the process of counting of votes shall be conducted in a fair, transparent, and balanced manner in accordance with the directions recorded by the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” it said.
The TMC also sent a letter to the West Bengal CEO, saying “you are requested to ensure strict compliance with the said Notification dated 13.04.2026, as clarified and observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated 02.05.2026 upon the undertaking given by Learned Senior Advocate appearing for the ECI. The requirement of appropriate representation of State and Central Government personnel in the counting process, through the prescribed mechanism of randomisation, must be scrupulously followed in due deference to the submission made before the Hon’ble Supreme Court today.”
BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said, “The state government is wasting the tax-payer’s money. The TMC already lost in the election. After assuming power in West Bengal, we will publish the TMC government’s expenditure on fighting cases in the Supreme Court.”
This means West Bengal election results will be declared on Monday for 293 of the 294 Assembly seats.
The ECI, in a release, said it was ordering fresh polls “in all the 285 polling stations, including auxiliary polling stations” of the Falta constituency after examining reports of “severe electoral offences and subversion of democratic process during polling in a large number of polling stations” on April 29.
Also Read | EC orders repolling in West Bengal's Falta seat on May 21, cites 'severe electoral offences'
Also on Saturday, repolling was held in 15 booths spread across two Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas district.
Supreme Court declines further order on counting process
In New Delhi, the Supreme Court declined to pass any further order on the Calcutta High Court ruling that had upheld the Election Commission’s decision to deploy Central government and PSU employees as counting supervisors and assistants for the West Bengal vote counting on Monday.Dismissing a TMC appeal against the High Court’s April 30 order, the bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi declined to issue any further direction after EC counsel Senior Advocate D S Naidu said the TMC’s concerns were “completely misplaced”. He also said the poll body was implementing its April 13 circular, which provides for the inclusion of state government employees in the counting process.
“No further orders are necessary…except to reiterate the statement of Senior Advocate D S Naidu that the circular dated April 13, 2026 will be implemented in true letter and spirit,” the bench said.
TMC questions deployment of Central government employees
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the TMC, argued that under the Election Commission circular, which forms part of the EC handbook, there had to be “random selection of state government and Central government employees” for counting duty. However, he said only Central government employees were being deployed.Responding to this, Naidu said, “The returning officer has the overarching power and is from the state government… And everything happens under his supervision. He picks up by way of randomisation, both the counting supervisor and also the counting assistant. And we have alternated in such a way that if the first one is from the Central government, the other is from the state government and vice versa.”
He added, “Thereafter, each candidate will have his own agents. If there are 10 tables, there will be 10 agents. They will be just watching the proceedings… It’s a completely misplaced apprehension.”
At the very beginning of the hearing, Sibal said the circular appointing Central government employees had been issued to district electoral officers on April 13, but “we came to know of it only on April 29”.
He said, “These things don’t happen. On the contrary, advance notice is given. There are meetings with the DEOs every two days. They don’t tell us anything about it.”
TMC raises concerns over Election Commission’s apprehensions
Questioning the Election Commission’s reasoning, Sibal said, “They say they have an apprehension that in every booth in West Bengal, there is going to be trouble. Where do they get that apprehension from? This is shocking. They already have a Central government nominee, micro-observer. Now they want another Central government nominee, for what purpose?”He argued that the circular itself clearly stated that a state government nominee should also be included. “They don’t appoint. Article 324 is not a wild horse,” he said.
Article 324 gives the Election Commission the power of superintendence, direction and control of elections.
Sibal further said, “They want another Central government nominee because they fear a possible irregularity. That’s pointing a finger at the state government.”
Supreme Court says counting officials remain under EC control
Justice Bagchi observed that, “All these persons, the nominees, be it of the Centre or the state, in discharge of their duties for counting, are under the control of the Election Commission. If the Commission has total control, it hardly matters whether they are state government or Central government employees.”On concerns over possible irregularities during vote counting, Justice Bagchi said, “That’s a subjective satisfaction.”
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Sibal also questioned why the Election Commission had not communicated the appointment of Central government employees to the state.
Justice Bagchi pointed out that the circular had already been issued and there was no requirement to consult political parties.
He further said that even if the circular had stated that both the counting agent and counting supervisor would be Central government employees, “still then, we could not have faulted them because” the relevant clause “says the pool of counting supervisor and counting agent will be from Class B and Class C… of either the state government or the Central government. So to choose from only one pool cannot be said to be incorrect. It’s within jurisdiction.”
TMC and BJP both claim advantage after Supreme Court order
After the Supreme Court order, both the TMC and BJP interpreted the development in their own favour.In a press release, the TMC said, “After hearing the parties, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed that Clause 1 of the communication dated 13.04.2026, relating to the appointment of Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants, must be read along with the salient feature contained in the second page of the said communication which provides for random selection of both State Government and Central Government employees.”
“It is expected that the process of counting of votes shall be conducted in a fair, transparent, and balanced manner in accordance with the directions recorded by the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” it said.
The TMC also sent a letter to the West Bengal CEO, saying “you are requested to ensure strict compliance with the said Notification dated 13.04.2026, as clarified and observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated 02.05.2026 upon the undertaking given by Learned Senior Advocate appearing for the ECI. The requirement of appropriate representation of State and Central Government personnel in the counting process, through the prescribed mechanism of randomisation, must be scrupulously followed in due deference to the submission made before the Hon’ble Supreme Court today.”
BJP calls Supreme Court decision a setback for TMC
The BJP said the Supreme Court’s decision not to pass any further order was a setback for the TMC and a validation of the West Bengal election process.BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said, “The state government is wasting the tax-payer’s money. The TMC already lost in the election. After assuming power in West Bengal, we will publish the TMC government’s expenditure on fighting cases in the Supreme Court.”
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