Kolkata/Falta: For an assembly constituency that has long been a stronghold for the Trinamool Congress, Falta is heading into Thursday's repoll under dramatically altered circumstances. On Tuesday, Trinamool candidate Jahangir Khan announced that he would not contest the election. By Wednesday, party functionaries conceded that the TMC — which secured a lead of nearly 1.6 lakh votes in the constituency during the Lok Sabha election — was unlikely to have enough polling agents.
Last-Minute Withdrawal Creates Chaos
"Jahangir withdrew at the last hour. It is virtually impossible to make arrangements, especially at a time when several hundreds of our partymen are either under arrest with false cases or have fled from their homes," said a senior party leader. The reversal marks the culmination of weeks of political turmoil in Falta, the only constituency in Bengal where the Election Commission ordered a repoll over allegations of large-scale malpractice.
The Singham Controversy
Khan had emerged as a central figure in the controversy after his public spat with UP-cadre police officer Ajay Pal Sharma, popularly dubbed "Singham" by sections of the media, days before polling on April 29. The incident had heightened tensions and brought national attention to the constituency.
A local TMC functionary who served as a booth agent during the earlier election admitted there was little enthusiasm within the party ranks. "If the candidate himself withdraws, then for whom will we fight? Why should we risk our lives?" he asked.
BJP and Left React
BJP candidate Debangshu Panda rejected allegations of intimidation. "Apart from me, Congress, CPM and two independent candidates are in the fray. Nobody has been stopped from appointing agents. TMC too will not face any obstruction. They have withdrawn because they are certain of defeat," he said.
CPM's Sujan Chakraborty said voters in Falta had lived in fear for years. "Even deploying polling agents was difficult. During the assembly bypoll, people could vote freely. If free voting is ensured, people will vote for us," he added.
Massive Security Deployment
The Election Commission has deployed 35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces personnel across Falta's 285 polling booths, alongside 30 Quick Response Teams. Several political figures, including panchayat samiti vice-chairman Saidul Khan, have been arrested in connection with the earlier violence.
