Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan on Tuesday announced that he was withdrawing from the Falta Assembly bypoll race and would no longer contest the repoll scheduled later this week.

The announcement came two days before polling, while counting of votes is set to take place on May 24.

BJP forms government in Bengal after massive victory

The political development comes after the BJP registered a sweeping victory in West Bengal, winning 207 seats and forming its first government in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Jahangir Khan cites development and peace

Explaining his decision to step aside from the contest, Khan said his primary concern was the welfare and stability of Falta.

“My objective is to ensure peace and security in Falta, and to foster its maximum possible development. My vision was ‘Sonar Falta.’ Our Chief Minister is providing a special package for the people of Falta; it is for this very reason that I am withdrawing my nomination. I have withdrawn my candidature in the interest of Falta’s development and peace,” he said.

When asked whether the move was voluntary or influenced by the Trinamool Congress leadership, Khan avoided elaborating and reiterated that his decision was made keeping the constituency’s interests in mind.

“I have answered many questions before. Today, what I had to say was that I have withdrawn from this contest. For the sake of the people of Falta, for the sake of Falta’s development, for the sake of maintaining peace in Falta,” he said.

Trinamool distances itself from decision

The Trinamool Congress later clarified that Khan’s withdrawal was a personal choice and not a decision taken by the party organisation.

In a statement, the party alleged that its workers in Falta had faced sustained pressure following the declaration of election results on May 4.

“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 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,” the statement said.

The party also asserted that it would continue resisting what it described as intimidation by the BJP.

“Our workers remain rock-solid and continue to resist the BJP’s intimidation unleashed through agencies and the administration. 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 statement added.

Political importance of Falta seat

The Falta repoll has attracted considerable political attention as the constituency falls within the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat represented by Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Notably, no rallies or public meetings were conducted in the constituency by Jahangir Khan or senior Trinamool leaders, including former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, during the campaign period after May 4.

Suvendu Adhikari takes swipe at TMC candidate

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reacted sharply to Khan’s decision soon after the announcement was made.

“He ran away as he won't get any polling agent,” Adhikari said.

Repoll ordered after complaints of electoral irregularities

The Election Commission had ordered a repoll across the entire Falta Assembly constituency following allegations of electoral malpractice during polling held on April 29.

Complaints emerged from several polling stations where the electronic voting machine buttons corresponding to BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape.

Special poll observer Subrata Gupta, who is currently serving as an adviser to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, visited the constituency and carried out an inquiry into the allegations.

Based on the findings submitted by Gupta, the Election Commission directed that repolling be conducted throughout the constituency.

With agency inputs