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TMC candidate Jahangir Khan pulls out of Falta Assembly repoll race (Img: Internet)
Kolkata: In a significant political development ahead of the Falta Assembly repoll in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan on Tuesday withdrew his nomination from the contest. The move comes just two days before voting is scheduled to take place in the South 24 Parganas constituency on May 21.
Khan’s withdrawal is being viewed as a setback for the TMC leadership, particularly because Falta falls within the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, considered a stronghold of senior party leader Abhishek Banerjee.
The Election Commission had earlier ordered a complete repoll across all 285 polling booths in the Falta Assembly constituency following allegations of serious irregularities during the second phase of polling held on April 29.
According to the Commission, the repoll was necessitated due to “severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process.” Voting for all booths, including auxiliary polling stations, will now take place under enhanced security arrangements between 7 am and 6 pm on May 21.
The counting of votes for the constituency is scheduled for May 24.
Falta emerged as one of the most controversial constituencies during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Several complaints related to booth management, voter intimidation and alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported from different areas.
A major controversy erupted at Debipur’s Booth No. 177 after BJP candidate Debangshu Panda and local voters alleged that the BJP symbol button on EVMs had been covered with white adhesive tape, making it inaccessible to voters. The allegations triggered sharp political reactions and intensified demands for strict action from opposition parties.
Despite Khan’s withdrawal, the contest in Falta remains politically significant. BJP candidate Debangshu Panda, Congress leader Abdur Razzak Molla and CPI(M)’s Sambhu Nath Kurmi continue to remain in the fray.
The West Bengal Assembly elections were conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results for the remaining constituencies expected later this month.
