TMC says Jahangir Khan’s decision to withdraw from Falta re-poll is ‘personal’

Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan from West Bengal's Falta has withdrawn his nomination just two days before the re-polling in the constituency.

Jahangir Khan was the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee's aide.

The Election Commission of India had scrapped the polls in the Falta assembly constituency and postponed it, citing electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process.

Arup Chakraborty, TMC spokesperson, said that the party had received information about Khan’s decision but is yet to get clarity on what prompted it.

"We have heard that Jahangir Khan has decided not to contest or participate in the Falta repoll.” "We are still not aware of the reason behind his withdrawal," he said.

Khan said he chose not to contest the election as West Bengal chief minister Suvendhu Adhikari promised a special package for Falta’s development. "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," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress took to X to say that Khan’s decision was his own. “The decision taken by Jahangir Khan to withdraw from the Falta re-poll is his personal decision and not that of the party. Since the election results were declared on 4th May, more than 100 of our party workers have been arrested in Falta AC alone.”

“Several party offices have been vandalised, shut down and forcibly captured in broad daylight through intimidation, while the EC continues to turn a blind eye despite repeated complaints.”

"However, some eventually succumbed to the pressure and chose to step away from the field. We strongly condemn this. Our fight against the Bangla Birodhi BJP will continue- both in West Bengal and in Delhi,” the party added in the statement.

The Election Commission had scheduled repolling in Falta on May 21 with counting of votes on May 24.

Reports sad that booths in Falta had serious irregularities during the actual elections. In some booths, ballot unit buttons were allegedly covered with black tape. Unauthorised individuals were also found entering the polling station and casting votes on behalf of others.

The withdrawal of the TMC candidate has prompted BJP leaders to take digs. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that Khan "ran away" from the re-election as he would not get any polling agents. Jahangir had compared himself to the chracter from the film Pushpa: The Rise. 

Adhikari, while addressing a rally in Diamond Harbour asked "Where is that Pushpa, the dacoit? He is not seen anywhere now. The National Human Rights Commission declared 19 persons as notorious criminals in 2021. Jahangir was one of the them."