'CM Adhikari promised ...': Jahangir Khan exits Falta repoll; TMC says 'succumbed to pressure'

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan from West Bengal’s Falta constituency on Tuesday withdrew his nomination just two days before the re-polls.

Khan said that he decided not to contest the re-election as West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari promised a special package for Falta's development.

Adhikari, on the other hand, took a sharp jibe at Jhangir's decision and said that he "ran away as he won't get any polling agent.

Meanwhile, TMC, in a social media post on X, said that more than 100 of its party workers have been arrested in the Falta constituency while the EC “continues to turn a blind eye.”

“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 May 4, more than 100 of our party workers have been arrested in the 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,” the party 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. We strongly condemn this. Our fight against the Bangla Birodhi BJP will continue — both in West Bengal and in Delhi,” it added.

This comes after the Election Commission cancelled the entire voting process in Falta across all 285 polling stations, citing “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process.”

In its statement, the commission said the decision followed reports of severe electoral offences and large-scale subversion of the democratic process during voting on April 29. Repolling in the Falta seat is scheduled for May 21, while the counting of votes will take place on May 24.

Observer reports highlighted serious irregularities, including tampering with electronic voting machines, voter intimidation, and violations of polling rules.

In several booths, ballot unit buttons were allegedly covered with black tape, preventing proper voting. Unauthorised individuals were also reportedly found entering polling stations and casting votes on behalf of others. Missing or inconsistent video footage further raised concerns over transparency.

Earlier, West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari took direct aim at Jahangir, who had compared himself to the smuggler-turned-strongman character from the film Pushpa: The Rise.

Addressing a rally in Diamond Harbour, Adhikari said, “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 them. Leave him to me. I will take care of him.”

Ahead of the rally, police arrested Saidul Khan, a close aide of Jahangir and Trinamool’s Falta vice-president, on multiple charges including issuing death threats.

In the 2026 assembly elections, BJP secured 207 seats, ending TMC’s 15-year rule in the state. While, TMC managed to win 80 seats only.