A pivotal hearing is set to take place at the Calcutta High Court today, presided over by Justice Saugata Bhattacharya. This hearing comes as the interim protection granted to Jahangir Khan, the Trinamool Congress candidate for the Falta Assembly constituency, has concluded as of May 24. Khan had sought this protection following multiple FIRs accusing him of intimidating voters during the regular polling on April 29. The court had previously granted him relief from coercive police actions until May 24, allowing him to prepare for the repoll scheduled for May 21.
On May 18, Khan approached the court with an anticipatory bail plea, fearing arrest prior to the crucial repoll. Justice Bhattacharya, upon hearing the plea, provided interim protection, setting May 26 as the next hearing date. This hearing will determine whether Khan's protection will be extended, a decision that holds significant implications given the serious allegations against him.
- Withdrawal from contest — Khan announced his withdrawal from the election, citing support for Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's development package, yet remained on the ballot.
- Election results — The repoll results declared on May 24 saw BJP's Debangshu Panda winning by over 100,000 votes, with Khan finishing fourth.
- Impact of FIRs — Multiple FIRs against Khan for voter intimidation could influence the court's decision regarding his future.
During a press conference prior to the repoll, Khan's withdrawal was framed as a show of solidarity, but it did not alter his candidacy status as his name remained on the electronic voting machines. The results revealed a stark defeat for Khan, who garnered only 7,783 votes, leading to the forfeiture of his deposit. As the court reconvenes today, all eyes will be on the potential outcomes for Khan amid the backdrop of a politically charged atmosphere.
