KOLKATA — In a dramatic political development just two days before re-polling, Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jehangir Khan announced his withdrawal from the contest for the Falta assembly constituency in West Bengal. Khan made the unexpected announcement during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, just hours before the official campaign window was scheduled to close.
During his briefing, Khan praised West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, citing the state administration’s developmental initiatives as the primary reason for his exit. Khan stated that as a native of Falta, his foremost priorities are the long-term peace and economic progress of the region. He noted that the Chief Minister is extending a special financial package for Falta’s development, which prompted his decision to step away from the electoral battle. Khan is widely recognized as an influential and powerful local leader within the South 24 Parganas district.
The assembly seat has been a focal point of intense political rivalry, especially after senior TMC leader and Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee openly challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the constituency. Banerjee had previously asserted that the opposition would be unable to secure a victory in Falta even if they fielded their strongest national leadership from New Delhi.
The initial voting for the Falta seat took place on April 29 during the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections. However, following widespread allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctioning and scattered incidents of violence, the Election Commission of India invalidated the initial poll and ordered fresh voting. The re-polling is scheduled to take place on May 21, with the final election results slated to be declared on May 24.
