Bengal CM Suvendu's stern warning to TMC's Jahangir Khan (Img: Internet)
Kolkata: Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday issued a strong warning to Trinamool Congress leader Jahangir Khan ahead of the repolling in the Falta Assembly constituency of West Bengal.
Addressing a public rally in Falta, the chief minister described Khan as a “notorious criminal” and said he would personally monitor the cases registered against him. The remarks came days before repolling is scheduled in the constituency on May 21.
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During the rally, Adhikari said the BJP government wanted the repolling process to remain peaceful and free from violence.
Referring to Jahangir Khan as “Pushpa”, the chief minister questioned his absence from the public scene and said law enforcement agencies had already registered FIRs in connection with the alleged incidents.
Adhikari also claimed that the BJP believes in democratic elections and does not support post-poll violence.
The Election Commission of India ordered repolling in Falta after allegations of large-scale irregularities during voting held on April 29 in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Complaints included claims of voter intimidation and alleged tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The repoll has turned Falta into one of the most closely watched constituencies in the state.
The constituency falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat, represented by senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.
Adhikari expressed confidence about a BJP victory in the constituency and appealed to voters to support BJP candidate Debangshu Panda by a large margin. The chief minister claimed the repolling would help restore voter rights in the region and alleged that residents had been unable to vote freely for years.
He also attacked the TMC leadership during the speech and said the political atmosphere in Falta had changed after the BJP’s strong performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections. The counting of votes for the Falta repoll is scheduled for May 24.
