KOLKATA: In a major political development, Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan announced on Tuesday that he is withdrawing his nomination from the Falta Assembly bypoll, just two days before the scheduled repoll. The development has triggered a fresh war of words between the ruling BJP and the TMC.
The Falta assembly segment falls under the Diamond Harbour parliamentary constituency—the stronghold of TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The Election Commission had ordered a total repoll in the constituency for May 21 after widespread allegations surfaced during the April 29 voting, where tape was allegedly found covering the BJP candidate’s symbol on EVMs. The final votes are scheduled to be counted on May 24.
“For Peace and Development”: Khan’s Defense
Announcing his decision to step down, Jahangir Khan claimed he was withdrawing voluntarily to secure local harmony and ensure development under the state’s financial packages.
“My vision was ‘Sonar Falta.’ Our Chief Minister is providing a special package for the people here… I have withdrawn my candidature in the interest of Falta’s development and peace,” Khan stated.
When pressed on whether the decision was his own or coerced by the party, Khan evaded specifics, reiterating that it was simply “for the sake of the people.”
TMC Blames BJP Intimidation; Distances Itself
The TMC high command quickly distanced itself from the announcement, terming it Khan’s “personal decision.” However, the party launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP administration, alleging a reign of terror since the state election results on May 4, which saw the BJP form its first-ever government in West Bengal with Suvendu Adhikari as Chief Minister.
In an official statement, the TMC stated:
“Since the election results were declared on May 4, more than 100 of our party workers have been arrested in Falta alone. Several party offices have been vandalised, shut down, and forcibly captured in broad daylight through intimidation… Some eventually succumbed to the pressure and chose to step away from the field. We strongly condemn this.”
Notably, neither former CM Mamata Banerjee nor Abhishek Banerjee had campaigned or held rallies for Khan in Falta since the May 4 state election verdict.
“The ‘Pushpa’ is a Flop”: BJP Mocks TMC Exit
The BJP leadership immediately seized on Khan’s exit to mock the opposition’s collapsing morale in the state.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari took a sharp swipe at the TMC candidate, stating simply, “He ran away as he won’t get any polling agent.”
Meanwhile, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar invoked Khan’s previous filmi campaign rhetoric to mock the retreat:
“Several people try to be ‘Pushpa,’ but ‘Pushpa’ was a ‘phusss’ (flop) this time. There used to be posters in Diamond Harbour stating ‘AB (Abhishek Banerjee) jhukega nahi‘. Everyone is bending now. AB’s agent has bent now; AB will too in the time to come.”
