Ahead of the repoll in Falta on May 21, Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate for the constituency, Jahangir Khan, on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of his nomination.
In a news conference, Khan announced his withdrawal, citing that he wants “more development for Falta,” and said, “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 I have withdrawn my candidature in the interest of Falta’s development and peace.”
ANI reported that when asked if this was a personal decision or enforced by the TMC, he responded, “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 Today, what I had to say was that I have withdrawn from this contest.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.”
TMC issues statement
Following Khan’s withdrawal from the repoll, TMC stated on X (formerly Twitter). The party stated in the post that it was the personal decision of the candidate and not of the party.
“The decision taken by Jahangir Khan to withdraw from the Falta re-poll is his personal decision and not that of the party,” it read.
“Since the election results were declared on 4th May, more than 100 of our party workers have been arrested in Falta AC 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 added.
“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,” TMC continued in the post.
It further wrote, “We strongly condemn this. Our fight against the Bangla Birodhi BJP will continue- both in West Bengal and in Delhi.”
FIRs against Jahangir Khan
According to IANS, a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday granted interim protection to Jahangir Khan from any coercive police action, including arrest, till the repoll process is completed and the results are announced.
Khan had approached the single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya with an anticipatory bail plea apprehending arrest ahead of the repoll.
Reportedly, the court had clarified that the interim protection would apply in connection with all FIRs registered against him.
At present, five FIRs have been registered against Khan, one on May 5, three on May 10 and another on May 15.
The charges mentioned in the FIRs relate to alleged voter intimidation and other electoral irregularities during polling in Falta on April 29.
Falta repoll on May 21
The by-poll in the 144-Falta Assembly Constituency is scheduled for May 21 (Thursday), following irregularities reported during the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered a fresh poll to be held across all 285 polling stations in the Falta Assembly Constituency of West Bengal, even as repolling was held in 15 booths in the Paschim Magrahat and Diamond Harbour assembly constituencies.
Notably, the votes will be counted on May 24.
West Bengal election result 2026
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections in West Bengal was conducted on May 4.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a historic win in West Bengal with a huge mandate of 207 seats. The saffron party formed its first-ever government in Bengal, with Suvendu Adhikari as the Chief Minister.
