A dramatic political twist unfolded in West Bengal after All India Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan withdrew from the Falta Assembly re-poll contest just hours before campaigning officially ended in the constituency.
The sudden decision has intensified political discussion around the high-profile re-election ordered by the Election Commission of India following allegations of voting irregularities and intimidation during the earlier polling process.
The Election Commission had directed fresh polling across all 285 polling stations, including auxiliary booths, in the Falta Assembly constituency on May 21 after complaints related to alleged booth capturing, voter intimidation and Electronic Voting Machine tampering surfaced during the previous election phase.
Announcing his withdrawal, Jahangir Khan said he wanted peace and development for the constituency rather than continued political confrontation.
“I am the son of Falta and I want Falta to be at peace and grow. Our CM Suvendu Adhikari is giving a special package for the development of Falta, which is why I am separating myself from the re-polling of the constituency,” Khan told reporters.
The statement immediately triggered political speculation because Khan referred to Suvendu Adhikari while announcing his decision, despite being a TMC candidate.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Arup Chakraborty later said he was unaware of the exact reason behind Khan’s last-minute withdrawal from the contest.
The development came shortly after the Calcutta High Court granted relief to Jahangir Khan by directing that no coercive action be taken against him in five separate cases until May 26. The court had also cleared the way for him to contest the election.
Khan has faced allegations related to voter intimidation, booth capturing and interference with EVMs during the earlier polling process in Falta. The allegations became central to demands for repolling in the constituency.
The unexpected withdrawal is likely to reshape the political dynamics of the re-poll, with both the ruling TMC and opposition BJP expected to intensify their campaigns in the final hours before voting.
The Falta re-election is now being closely watched as another major political flashpoint in West Bengal’s increasingly tense electoral landscape.
