KOLKATA, May 19 : In a jolt to the Trinamool Congress two days ahead of the Falta Assembly repoll, the party’s candidate Jahangir Khan on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the contest after publicly praising West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Khan cited “peace and development” of the area as the reason behind his decision, even as the Trinamool Congress called it a “personal decision”, and not that of the party.
The dramatic announcement came just hours before campaigning officially ended for the repoll and triggered sharp political reactions across party lines. Falta is part of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which has Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee as the sitting MP.
Jahangir, often described as a confidante of Abhishek Banerjee and strongman with considerable influence in the Diamond Harbour belt, made the declaration at a media conference in which he lauded the chief minister’s leadership and administrative approach.
The development assumes significance as only a few days ago, Adhikari, while addressing an election rally in support of BJP candidate Debangshu Panda, had publicly stated that the “responsibility” of dealing with Jahangir Khan rested with him.
“Let the election process be completed first. I will personally look into the matter,” Adhikari had remarked in a stern warning directed at the TMC nominee.
Within days of that statement, Jahangir’s sudden exit from the electoral battle has intensified speculation in political circles over growing pressure within the constituency and deep cracks within the Trinamool Congress organisation in the Diamond Harbour region, which was considered an impregnable fortress of the Trinamool for one and a half decades.
Abhishek had taken a huge lead of over his BJP opponent froM the Falta Assembly segment in the 2024 general elections.
However, the TMC said: “The decision taken by Jahangir Khan to withdraw from the Falta re-poll is his personal decision and not that of the party.”
In a post on its official X handle, the party said since the Assembly election results were declared on May 4, more than 100 of its workers have been arrested in Falta constituency 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,” it said.
“Even in the face of such pressure, 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,” the party said.
Political opponents, however, ridiculed the Trinamool over the development. union Minister and former BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar claimed Jahangir had “fled with his tail tucked in”, questioning the silence of the TMC leadership, which had earlier projected the Diamond Harbour organisational model as politically invincible.
CPI-M state secretariat member Sujan Chakraborty also criticised the withdrawal, saying, “They speak aggressively and arrogantly, but flee out of fear. The Left faced repeated attacks in the past but continued the political fight on the ground instead of running away.”
The Falta repoll has already witnessed heightened political and administrative tension in recent weeks. Political observers pointed to the reported cold war between Diamond Harbour police district observer Ajay Pal Sharma and Jahangir Khan, which had further increased the constituency’s political sensitivity.
The repoll was necessitated after allegations of booth-capturing and large-scale electoral irregularities surfaced at several booths during the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Following complaints from opposition parties, the Election Commission reviewed the situation and ordered re-polling in the constituency.
Meanwhile, sections within the Trinamool Congress have also reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of party supremo Mamata Banerjee and sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee from the campaign trail in Falta.
Some local leaders privately admitted that while BJP, CPI-M and Congress leaders campaigned extensively in the constituency, the absence of the party’s top leadership created unease among grassroots workers.
The Chief Minister on Tuesday conducted a mega roadshow in support of the BJP candidate. Before beginning the procession, he offered prayers at a local Shiva temple.
Polling in Falta will be held on May 21 amid tight security arrangements, while counting of votes is scheduled for 24 May. (UNI)
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