- By Raju Kumar
- Tue, 19 May 2026 10:12 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Falta Repoll Battle: Just two days before voting, the Falta repoll, which was set to see a titanic clash between two heavyweight leaders in the bastion of Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's nephew, now, took a dramatic turn with the withdrawal of Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan. Khan had made the poll battle interesting, calling himself 'Pushpa', a Bollywood movie's leading character.
Re-election was ordered in the Falta assembly segment, where polling was held in the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections on April 29, following allegations of large-scale electoral malpractices.
ALSO READ: Jahangir Khan Backs Out Of Falta Repoll: Why Did TMC's 'Pushpa' Bow Down? Inside Story
What's Behind Jahangir Khan's Withdrawal?
On Tuesday, the TMC candidate announced he was withdrawing from the May 21 re-election in the assembly segment, stating that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's promise of a special package for the area's development prompted him to take the decision. Khan, who had become one of the most talked-about faces of the Falta campaign and cultivated a larger-than-life image around his self-styled 'Pushpa' persona of defiance, had repeatedly projected himself as someone who would not bend under pressure.
His sudden withdrawal, barely two days before polling, added another dramatic turn to a constituency already mired in allegations of electoral malpractice and political acrimony.
Addressing a press conference, Khan said he took the decision keeping Falta's interests in mind. "I am the son of Falta, and I want the area to be at peace and grow," he said.
"The CM has announced a special package for the development of Falta, which is why I have decided to move away from the re-polling process in the constituency," he added.
He Ran Away: CM Adhikari
The CM Adhikari claimed the Khan "ran away" from the re-election as he would not get any polling agents. "He had no other way, as he won't get a polling agent, so he decided to run away," Adhikari told reporters on the sidelines of his campaign in Falta in South 24 Parganas. Adhikari mocked the candidate for "running away", claiming he quit after realising he would not even find polling agents on the ground.
Falta Assembly constituency (South 24 Parganas, West Bengal) is important right now due to major electoral controversies, a full repoll ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI), and its role as a high-profile symbol of alleged malpractices in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Why Is Falta Seat Significant?
The polling on April 29 witnessed serious allegations of EVM tampering, including black tape on the voting machine. The ECI cancelled the entire poll and ordered fresh voting across all 285 polling booths on May 21, 2026, with results on May 24, 2026. It is a prestigious poll battle as the seat is a stronghold of the TMC and a home turf of Abhishek Banerjee. Chief Minister Adhikari led the campaign for the repoll and challenged Khan in the constituency, but today the TMC candidate changed the picture of the repoll battle. Traditionally, Falta voters support the TMC, but in the absence of Khan, anti-BJP voters may shift to the Left or Congress.
Now, Who All Are In The Race:
Debangshu Panda: The BJP candidate, Panda, is now emerged as the strongest contender in the absence of the TMC candidate.
Sambhu Nath Kurmi: The (CPI(M)) leader, Kurmi, is reportedly getting a good response in campaigning, especially with reduced TMC influence.
Abdur Razzak Molla: Congress candidate Molla is also in the fray, who may get Muslim votes.
(With Agencies Inputs)