The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to deploy its full political and organisational machinery in the Falta Assembly constituency, where fresh polling is scheduled for May 21 after the Election Commission countermanded the earlier vote.
The poll panel had annulled voting in the South 24 Parganas seat during the April 29 phase, citing “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process”, and ordered a complete repoll across all 285 booths.
In a strongly worded post on X, the Mamata Banerjee-led party dared the BJP to bring in its top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asserting that such efforts would not influence the electorate.
“Falta. Diamond Harbour. May 21. Spare no expense. Bring everything you’ve got. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath, if you have the spine for it, come yourselves,” the TMC said.
The ruling party also urged the Election Commission to deploy an overwhelming number of central forces, claiming that even heightened security presence would not alter the outcome.
“Deploy 50,000 Central Force personnel. Line every polling booth with armoured vehicles. Fly in every ‘Singham’ you have at your disposal,” the post added, in an apparent reference to Uttar Pradesh-cadre IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, an EC-appointed police observer known for his tough stance on law and order.
Sharma had earlier warned of strict action against any attempts to disrupt polling during the April 29 phase.
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The TMC further accused the BJP of running misinformation campaigns and attempting to influence voters through its media and digital outreach.
“Run your IT Cell ragged with two weeks of nonstop misinformation. Have your paid media unleash as much ‘hawabaazi’ as their lungs will allow,” the party said.
Despite the charged rhetoric, the TMC expressed confidence that the electorate in Falta had already made up its mind.
“Because when the smoke clears and the votes are counted, it will be the people of Falta who have the last word. And the people of Falta have already decided,” it said, adding that the BJP should be “prepared to lose”.
The Election Commission has said that the repoll will be conducted under “stringent security arrangements” to ensure a free, fair and transparent process. Voting will take place between 7 am and 6 pm on May 21.
Counting of votes for the constituency will be held on May 24, separately from the rest of the state, where results are due on May 4.
The Falta repoll adds a fresh flashpoint to an already high-stakes electoral contest in West Bengal, marked by intense political rivalry and heightened scrutiny over the conduct of polling.
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