New Delhi, May 19: The political landscape in West Bengal has heated up following the withdrawal of Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jahangir Khan from the upcoming re-poll in the Falta assembly constituency. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), who labeled the TMC as a “coward” and a “fleeing party.” In contrast, the Samajwadi Party, part of the ‘India Block’ coalition, has supported TMC’s decision.
On the last day of campaigning for the re-poll, Jahangir Khan unexpectedly announced, “I will not contest this election.” This announcement prompted opposition parties to target the TMC.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala reacted strongly, stating, “The TMC is a cowardly, fleeing, and surrendering party. Observing the public mood and atmosphere in Bengal, their candidate decided to withdraw.” He further claimed that the TMC aimed to win elections through intimidation but failed to do so.
CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah emphasized the importance of fighting for development. He remarked, “One cannot achieve progress by fleeing from struggle. Our party may be small, but we face attacks daily, yet we still field candidates. Regardless of the outcome, it is essential to voice against injustice.” He criticized the TMC, saying, “They are at the forefront during good times, but they flee when challenges arise. That is the character of the TMC.”
Naushad Siddiqui, a leader of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), outlined three possible reasons for Jahangir Khan’s withdrawal: he may have chosen to step back, he could be signaling an easy victory for the BJP, or there might be internal disputes within the TMC. Siddiqui noted that it has been less than a month since the TMC’s defeat in the assembly elections, and now no one is willing to contest in the re-poll. He claimed that if Jahangir Khan had participated, he would have 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 widespread electoral fraud, and the Election Commission is acting like a political party.” He questioned the purpose of conducting elections if the BJP can declare itself the winner by consensus, asserting that Jahangir Khan’s loss in the re-poll was inevitable.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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