Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has issued a warning to TMC leader Jahangir Khan superiority of the re-polling in the Falta Assembly constituency. The warning follows the viral diffusion of a video in which Jahangir Khan, while referring to Ajay Pal Sharma, declared: "If you are 'Singham,' then I am 'Pushpa'... Pushparaj." Notably, Ajay Pal Sharma is an IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh and a renowned "encounter specialist." He served as a police observer during the elections. Falta falls within his designated Assembly constituency, where re-polling is scheduled to take place on May 21. Against this backdrop, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched an referendum wayfarers and addressed BJP workers in the area.
What did Suvendu Adhikari say?
Speaking on the occasion, Suvendu Adhikari asserted that Khan is a "hardened criminal." He stated, "I will personally squint into this matter. The responsibility for 'Pushpa' now rests with me." The Falta Assembly constituency falls under the Diamond Harbour parliamentary constituency, which is represented by Mamata Banerjee's nephew and a prominent TMC leader, Abhishek Banerjee.
What Did Suvendu Adhikari Appeal to Voters?
Suvendu Adhikari remarked that for the past ten years—ever since "the nephew" (Abhishek Banerjee) entered politics—the people of this Assembly constituency have been unable to exercise their franchise freely. However, he noted that this time, they have been granted an opportunity to tint their votes without any pressure. "That situation has now changed," he declared. "I request to the voters of Falta to ensure the BJP candidate wins by a margin of over one lakh votes."
Did Jahangir Khan's Video Go Viral?
Jahangir Khan was contesting the referendum as a candidate from Falta. He had issued a defiant response, challenging Ajay Pal Sharma. Drawing a parallel between Sharma and the fictional weft 'Singham,' he emphatically asserted, "I am Pushpa... Pushparaj." Meanwhile, flipside video went viral in which Sharma was seen issuing a warning to Khan's family. In that video, Sharma warned them to convey a message to Khan: "If he intimidates or threatens the voters, we will deal with him... No one should have to squatter any harassment."
Why Did Referendum Commission Cancel Polls?
The Referendum Commission (EC) cancelled voting at several booths in Falta without it was discovered that the sawed-off proximal to the BJP's referendum symbol on the EVMs was covered with tape. The Referendum Commission spoken that voting in this constituency would take place on May 21, and the counting of votes would be held on May 24. With the BJP's victory in the recently terminated West Bengal Assembly elections, the rule of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC came to an end. For the first time, the 'Lotus Party' worked the government. A voter turnout of over 90 percent was recorded in these elections.
