Kolkata: In a major political upset in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a massive victory in the Falta Assembly constituency, considered a traditional stronghold of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). BJP candidate Debangshu Panda won the seat with a margin exceeding 1.09 lakh votes, while TMC candidate Jahangir Khan suffered a shocking defeat and slipped to fourth position in the constituency.
The election drew attention after Jahangir Khan announced his withdrawal from the contest just days before the re-poll. However, since the nomination withdrawal deadline had already passed, his name and symbol remained on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Although the TMC termed it a personal decision, political observers noted that the party’s campaign activities in Falta almost completely came to a standstill after the announcement. On polling day, Khan’s residence was reportedly locked, while TMC cadre presence in the constituency remained minimal.
Jahangir Khan, known for projecting a “Pushpa-style” public image during the campaign, reportedly stated that he stepped aside after being impressed by the special development package announced for Falta by senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Responding to the BJP’s landslide victory, Adhikari said the result reflected the true spirit of democracy when people are allowed to vote freely and without fear. In a message posted on X, he thanked the voters of Falta for delivering a margin larger than the one lakh lead he had sought and assured them of accelerated development in the constituency.
Adhikari also mounted a strong attack on the ruling TMC, accusing the party of functioning like a “mafia company” by allegedly misusing public funds and intimidating voters over the years. He claimed that elections in the state had previously been reduced to a “farce” and asserted that the people of Falta had exercised genuine voting freedom for the first time in 15 years. Mocking the ruling party, he further remarked that the TMC could soon find itself competing even with NOTA in future elections.