BJP secures big win in Palda re-poll
In West Bengal, the BJP has won the Palda Assembly constituency in a re-election, with its candidate Debangshu Panda securing victory by a margin of more than one lakh votes.
The state’s Assembly elections for 294 constituencies were held in two phases on April 23 and 29. Following complaints of irregularities, the Election Commission announced a re-poll for Palda in South 24 Parganas district on May 21, with counting scheduled for May 24.
While votes in the remaining constituencies were counted earlier, the Palda ballots were counted on Saturday. From the start of counting, Panda maintained a clear lead and eventually defeated CPI(M) candidate Shambhunath Kurmi by 1.09 lakh votes.
Congress candidate Abdul Razak Molla finished third. Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan, who had announced a last-minute withdrawal from the contest, placed fourth.
With this result, the BJP’s strength in the West Bengal Assembly has risen to 208 seats.
