THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Ranchi, May 19: Two days ahead of the repoll in West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency, Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan on Monday announced his withdrawal from the electoral contest.
Khan said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s promise of a special development package for Falta influenced his decision.
“I am the son of Falta, and I want the area to remain peaceful and develop,” Khan said during a press conference.
Suvendu Adhikari says Jahangir ‘ran away’
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who held a roadshow in Falta on Tuesday, claimed that Khan withdrew because he was unable to arrange polling agents.
“He had no other option, as he could not get polling agents, so he decided to run away,” Adhikari told reporters during his campaign in South 24 Parganas.
TMC alleges arrests and intimidation of workers
Reacting to the development, the TMC clarified that Khan’s withdrawal was his “personal decision” and not the party’s official stand.
In a post on X, the party alleged that more than 100 TMC workers had been arrested in the Falta constituency since the election results were declared on May 4.
The party also accused the Election Commission of ignoring repeated complaints of vandalism and intimidation.
“Several party offices have been vandalised, shut down, and forcibly occupied in broad daylight through intimidation, while the EC continues to turn a blind eye,” the TMC alleged.
The party said its workers continued to resist “BJP intimidation” despite mounting pressure.
High Court grants interim protection to Khan
Earlier on Monday, the Calcutta High Court granted interim protection to Jahangir Khan from coercive police action, including arrest, until the repoll process and declaration of results are completed.
Khan had approached the single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya seeking anticipatory bail, fearing arrest ahead of the repoll.
The court reportedly clarified that the protection would apply to all FIRs registered against him.
At present, five FIRs have been lodged against Khan — one on May 5, three on May 10, and another on May 15 — in connection with alleged voter intimidation and electoral irregularities during polling on April 29.
Repoll in all 285 polling stations on May 21
The Election Commission ordered a repoll across all 285 polling stations in the Falta Assembly constituency following reports of irregularities during the second phase of the Bengal Assembly elections.
Repolling is scheduled for May 21, while counting of votes will take place on May 24.
The Assembly election results were declared on May 4, with the BJP securing a massive victory by winning 207 seats and forming its first government in West Bengal under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.