EC doubles security arrangements for Falta repoll in West Bengal

Key points

• The Election Commission has nearly doubled the security arrangements for the May 21 repoll in West Bengal's Falta Assembly constituency that was countermanded last month over allegations of large-scale EVM tampering, a senior poll panel official said on Wednesday (May 20, 2026).
• According to an official at the state Chief Electoral Officer, eight Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, equivalent to one full section, will be deployed at each polling booth.
• During the April 29 polling that was ultimately countermanded, only four personnel, or half a section, had been stationed at each booth, he added.
• "The poll panel does not want to leave any room for irregularities this time.
• Security arrangements have therefore been significantly strengthened," an official of the poll panel told PTI.