Kolkata: On May 19, 2026, Trinamool candidate Jahangir Khan withdrew from the re-polling contest in Falta (Diamond Harbour), leaving his party without a candidate in a seat it previously held and drawing fresh attacks on Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee from the BJP. Repolling in Falta is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, after voting there was abandoned on April 29 amid allegations of electoral malpractice; the votes are due to be counted on May 24, 2026.
Khan — who had styled himself as the area’s “Pushpa” after the Telugu film character — said he was quitting because Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had promised a special development package for Falta. “It is for this reason that I am withdrawing my nomination. I have withdrawn my candidature in the interest of Falta’s development and peace,” Khan said on May 19.
The BJP seized on Khan’s exit to renew criticism of Abhishek Banerjee, who hails from the area. Union Minister of State and former West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said Khan’s withdrawal showed even Banerjee’s supporters were yielding to pressure, adding that Banerjee’s “time will come soon.” Majumdar mocked Khan’s “Pushpa” persona, saying several people tried to be “Pushpa” but it was a “phusss” this time and that “AB’s agent bhi jhuk gaya; AB bhi jhukega” (AB’s agent has bowed; AB will bow too).
Khan first drew attention after a confrontation with Ajay Pal Sharma, a UP-cadre IPS officer who was sent as a special observer to South 24 Parganas during the recent elections and had warned Khan over alleged electoral wrongdoing. At the time, Khan responded defiantly, adopting the “Pushpa” comparison while Sharma was likened by some to UP’s “Singham.”
Trinamool Congress distanced itself from Khan’s decision and condemned what it called BJP intimidation. The party said its workers remain “rock-solid” and will continue to resist pressure from agencies and the administration, but acknowledged that some individuals ultimately succumbed to such pressure and withdrew.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari countered Khan’s explanation, suggesting Khan pulled out because he would not get any polling agents. With the repoll set for May 21 and counting on May 24, Khan’s withdrawal adds a new political flashpoint to an already tense electoral process in Diamond Harbour.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/trinamools-pushpa-backs-out-bjps-abhishek-banerjee-bhi-jhukega-dig-11518658#publisher=newsstand
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-05-19 20:49:00
