Falta repoll: TMC's Jahangir Khan withdraws, BJP fires 'Lyari' jibe at Trinamool
Synopsis
Two days before the Falta repoll, TMC nominee Jahangir Khan — a key aide of Abhishek Banerjee — pulled out of the race, citing 'people's interest.' The BJP responded not with relief but with a 'Lyari' jibe from the Bollywood thriller 'Dhurandhar', warning that FIRs buried during TMC's rule will now be reopened. It is a withdrawal that has sharpened, not softened, the political battle in Falta.
Key Takeaways
Jahangir Khan , TMC nominee from Falta Assembly , withdrew from the repoll on 19 May , two days before voting on 21 May .
Khan is a close aide of Abhishek Banerjee , nephew of former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee .
He cited the West Bengal Chief Minister's special development package for Falta and public interest as reasons for his exit.
Khan denied any involvement in poll malpractice, saying he was in his office during the alleged violence.
BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar invoked the Bollywood film 'Dhurandhar' 's 'Lyari' reference, warning that dormant FIRs against TMC leaders in Falta will be reopened.
The Election Commission of India had revoked the original Falta election results due to violence and voter intimidation.
Jahangir Khan, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) nominee from the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas, announced his withdrawal from the upcoming repoll on Tuesday, 19 May, just two days before voting is scheduled on 21 May. Khan, a close aide of Abhishek Banerjee — nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — cited public interest and local development as his reasons, even as the move drew sharp reactions from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and sections within his own party.
Khan's Stated Reasons
Speaking at a press conference, Khan framed his exit as a selfless act rooted in concern for Falta's residents. 'I am a son of the soil of Falta and want peace and development. The West Bengal Chief Minister is providing a special package for Falta. Hence, I am not contesting the re-polls. I have taken this decision for the people of Falta,' he said.
Khan also distanced himself from allegations of electoral violence in the constituency. 'I didn't indulge in any malpractice during polling. I do not know who did. I was in my office,' he added. The Falta seat was sent to repoll after the Election Commission of India (ECI) revoked the original election results owing to documented electoral offences, including violence and threats to voters.
BJP's 'Lyari' Jibe at TMC
The BJP wasted no time in turning Khan's withdrawal into political ammunition. BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar invoked the Bollywood thriller 'Dhurandhar', drawing a pointed comparison between the film's fictional criminal enclave 'Lyari' and the ground reality in Falta.
'Just as a place named 'Lyari' is depicted in the film 'Dhurandhar', a 'Lyari' of sorts exists in Falta, West Bengal. It is a place that Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Alamgir, all TMC leaders, collectively created. The local residents believe that these individuals are, in themselves, antisocial elements. Numerous FIRs had been lodged against them; however, during TMC's tenure in power, the police would refuse to register these complaints. A great deal transpired during that period as well. Now, a significant number of these FIRs will be reopened, where they will be brought to book for previous crimes,' Sarkar said.
Background: Why Falta Is Heading to Repolls
The Falta Assembly seat, located in South 24 Parganas, was among the constituencies where the Election Commission annulled the initial poll results following credible reports of voter intimidation and violence. The repoll is scheduled for 21 May. This comes amid a broader political realignment in West Bengal, where the BJP swept the recently concluded Assembly elections with an overwhelming majority, ending TMC's long hold on state power.
What Happens Next
With Khan out of the race, the Falta repoll on 21 May is set to be a significantly altered contest. The BJP's warning that dormant FIRs against TMC-linked leaders will be reopened signals that the political pressure on the Trinamool's local machinery is far from over. Whether Khan's withdrawal stabilises or further unsettles TMC's position in the constituency will become clearer once results are declared.
Point of View
But the timing — two days before a court-ordered repoll triggered by violence — invites scepticism. If the constituency was genuinely peaceful under his watch, the withdrawal rationale does not fully hold. The BJP's 'Lyari' framing is theatrics, but the underlying threat — reopening dormant FIRs — is a concrete political tool that a ruling party controls. The real story in Falta is not one candidate stepping aside; it is whether the change of guard in Bengal translates into accountability for past electoral violence, or merely a new set of power arrangements.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jahangir Khan withdraw from the Falta repoll?
Jahangir Khan withdrew from the Falta Assembly repoll on 19 May, two days before the scheduled vote on 21 May, stating he was doing so in the interest of peace and development for the people of Falta. He also cited a special development package being provided by the West Bengal Chief Minister for the constituency.
Why is Falta going to a repoll?
The Election Commission of India revoked the original Falta Assembly election results due to documented electoral offences, including violence and threats to voters. The repoll is scheduled for 21 May.
What is the BJP's 'Lyari' jibe about?
BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar compared Falta to 'Lyari', a fictional criminal enclave depicted in the Bollywood film 'Dhurandhar'. He alleged that TMC leaders Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Alamgir had collectively created a lawless environment in Falta, and warned that numerous FIRs suppressed during TMC's tenure would now be reopened.
Who is Jahangir Khan and what is his connection to Abhishek Banerjee?
Jahangir Khan is a key aide of Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He was the TMC's nominated candidate for the Falta Assembly constituency before his withdrawal.
What happens to the Falta repoll now that Khan has withdrawn?
With Khan out of the race, the Falta repoll on 21 May will proceed with an altered field of candidates. The BJP, which swept the recent Bengal Assembly elections, is positioned as the dominant force and has signalled it will pursue legal action against TMC-linked leaders in the constituency.
