TMC candidate Jahangir Khan pulls out of Falta re-poll race in Bengal

Days before the re-polls,TMC candidate Jahangir Khan from Falta on Tuesday withdrew his nomination. TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said the party has received information about Khan's .decision, but is yet to get clarity on what prompted.Falta, which is part of the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency from where Abhishek is the incumbent MP, did not see the presence of any top Trinamool Congress leaders during the run-up to the repoll. It even prompted BJP Bengal chief Samik Bhattacharya to take a dig, asking where Abhishek is during campaigning in Falta. Similarly, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also took a swipe at Jahangir Khan, asking “Where’s Pushpa?” while campaigning over the weekend.

"Pushpa, jhuk gaya!" #Falta TMC candidate Jahangir Khan praises CM #SuvenduAdhikari, says he won't contest in May 21 re-poll. @indiablooms pic.twitter.com/t7ltbBW2tH

— Deepayan Sinha | দীপায়ন | दीपायन (@sdeepayan) May 19, 2026

Cases of voter intimidation and alleged tampering with EVMs, including blocking opposition candidates’ names, were reported across booths in Falta. Inadequate CCTV footage also made it impossible to verify the fairness of the polling process. The repolling in Falta seat is scheduled to take place on May 21.On May 18, the Calcutta High Court permitted TMC leader Khan to contest the re-poll in Bengal’s Falta assembly seat. The court ordered no coercive action against Khan until May 24. The TMC leader has multiple FIRs registered against him.
Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday held a road show in Falta assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas on the final day of campaigning for the repoll. He began the road show after offering 'puja' and performing 'arati' at a temple, with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' filling the air as BJP supporters gathered in large numbers. Adhikari then boarded an open-hood vehicle for the road show in support of BJP candidate Debanshu Panda.

It was Jahangir Khan who had thrown a challenge to IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, who was brought in as poll observer ahead of the elections. Sharma’s reputation as an encounter specialist earned him the moniker “Singham,” which followed him to Bengal. Khan referred to himself as “Pushpa” and said, “If he is Singham, then I am Pushpa,” after Sharma went to Khan’s house ahead of the polls, warning family members against intimidating voters on election day.