New Delhi, May 19: Political tensions have escalated in West Bengal ahead of the re-polling in the Falta assembly constituency, following the withdrawal of Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan from the electoral race. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) have criticized the TMC, labeling it as a “cowardly” and “fleeing party.” In contrast, the Samajwadi Party, an ally in the ‘India Block,’ has supported the TMC’s decision.
On the last day of campaigning for the re-poll, Jahangir Khan unexpectedly announced, “I am not contesting this election.” This decision prompted opposition parties to target the TMC. BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla reacted, stating, “The TMC is a cowardly, fleeing, and surrendering party. Their candidate decided to withdraw after assessing the public mood and atmosphere in Bengal.” He further claimed that the TMC aimed to win elections through intimidation but failed to do so.
CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah emphasized the necessity of struggle for development, criticizing the TMC for avoiding challenges. He remarked, “Struggling is essential for progress. Our party may be small, but we face attacks daily, yet we have fielded our candidate. Regardless of the outcome, it is crucial to raise our voice against injustice.”
Indian Secular Front (ISF) leader Naushad Siddiqui suggested three possible reasons for Khan’s withdrawal: a personal decision, a signal to the BJP for an easy victory, or internal disputes within the TMC. He noted that it has been less than a month since the TMC’s defeat in the assembly elections, and no one is willing to contest the re-poll. Siddiqui claimed that had Khan participated, he would have likely finished in fourth or fifth place, which would have been a significant embarrassment for the party.
However, Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan supported the TMC candidate’s decision, stating, “There is no relevance left in the elections. There is rigging happening, and the Election Commission is acting like a political party itself.” He questioned the purpose of conducting elections, suggesting that the BJP could simply declare itself the winner. Hasan asserted that Khan’s defeat in the re-poll was inevitable.
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VKU/DKP