Political tensions intensified in West Bengal ahead of the Falta Assembly re-election after police arrested a senior All India Trinamool Congress leader closely associated with party candidate Jahangir Khan.
According to police officials, Falta Panchayat Samiti vice-president Saidul Khan was arrested by officers from Falta Police Station in connection with allegations related to attempted murder and political violence.
Investigators said raids were conducted at Saidul Khan’s residence on Friday night following multiple complaints registered against him over the past several months. Police claimed the accused was allegedly involved in incidents linked to violence and intimidation in the area.
The Trinamool Congress had not issued any official statement regarding the arrest till late Saturday.
The development comes just days before the re-election scheduled in the Falta Assembly constituency on May 21 under directions issued by the Election Commission. Counting of votes is expected to take place on May 24.
The political atmosphere in the region has remained tense after the BJP recently came to power in West Bengal, replacing the Trinamool Congress government.
New Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to hold an administrative meeting in Diamond Harbour and later campaign in Falta ahead of the re-poll. He is also expected to lead a major roadshow in the constituency on May 19 during the final phase of campaigning.
Amid the heightened political activity, Jahangir Khan appeared publicly in Falta on Friday after remaining away from public gatherings for several days.
He visited his party office in the Serampore area, which had allegedly been vandalised after the BJP came to power in the state. According to TMC workers, BJP supporters had allegedly damaged the office and hoisted party flags there following the political transition.
Jahangir Khan accused the administration of targeting Trinamool leaders and workers through what he described as “false cases” with the support of central forces.
“Since the BJP came to power, the administration has been framing Trinamool leaders and workers in false cases every day,” he alleged while speaking to local media.
The Falta constituency had already witnessed controversy during the Assembly elections after Trinamool Congress leaders accused Election Commission-appointed police observer Ajay Pal Sharma of intimidating party workers and conducting aggressive late-night searches near Jahangir Khan’s residence.
Videos linked to the incident had gone viral on social media, further escalating the political confrontation between the BJP and the TMC in the Diamond Harbour region.
