Tensions flare ahead of Bengal’s Falta repoll: Close aide of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan arrested following late-night raid
The Statesman | 17 May 2026
Political tensions escalate again in West Bengal’s Falta Assembly constituency ahead of the crucial May 21 repoll after police arrested a senior local Trinamool Congress functionary considered close to party candidate Jahangir Khan. The arrest comes amid an already volatile atmosphere in Diamond Harbour, where allegations of intimidation, violence and political confrontation have dominated the run-up to the re-election.
Police on Saturday confirmed the arrest of Saidul Khan, vice-president of the Falta Panchayat Samiti, following a late-night raid conducted by officers of Falta police station. Investigators said the Trinamool leader faces allegations linked to attempted murder and spreading political violence in the region.
According to police officials, multiple complaints had been pending against Saidul Khan for a considerable period. Acting on those allegations, officers carried out a raid at his residence on Friday night before taking him into custody.
Authorities claimed the case includes serious accusations of violent political activity and an attempt to murder, though detailed specifics of the investigation have not yet been made public.
The Trinamool Congress has not issued any official statement regarding the arrest so far, even as the development triggered intense political speculation in the constituency days before voters return to polling booths.
The Election Commission has scheduled a repoll in Falta Assembly constituency on May 21, with counting set for May 24. The constituency has become one of the most politically sensitive battlegrounds in the state following the dramatic shift in power in West Bengal, where the BJP ousted the Trinamool Congress government.
The repoll is expected to witness a fierce contest, with all parties attempting to consolidate their support bases in the politically crucial Diamond Harbour region.
The Falta constituency had already witnessed controversy during the Assembly elections after Trinamool candidate Jahangir Khan publicly criticised Election Commission-appointed police observer Ajay Pal Sharma over alleged intimidation tactics.
A video that circulated widely on social media reportedly showed Sharma speaking sternly to local residents near Jahangir Khan’s residence in South 24 Parganas district. The Trinamool Congress accused the observer of threatening locals, conducting late-night searches and exceeding his authority while monitoring election-related activities.
The ruling party had also alleged inappropriate behaviour during the operations, claims that further intensified the charged political climate in the constituency.
Meanwhile, the BJP leadership has intensified its campaign efforts ahead of the repoll. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to hold an administrative meeting in Diamond Harbour before launching a high-voltage campaign for the Falta repoll.
The Chief Minister is also expected to lead a roadshow in Falta on May 19, the final day of campaigning, signalling the importance the BJP has attached to the constituency.
Amid the heightened political activity, Jahangir Khan made a public appearance in Falta on Friday after remaining largely absent from the constituency for an extended period, adding another layer of intrigue to an already tense electoral contest.