Falta Repoll: West Bengal Chief Minister Holds Road Show Ahead of May 21 Voting

PTI, May 19, 2026, Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday held a road show in the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas on the final day of campaigning for the May 21 repoll, drawing large crowds who lined the route for hours in sweltering heat to catch a glimpse of the BJP leader.

The road show, from Baneshwar to Falta bus stand, drew men, women and children on both sides of the road who cheered for the Chief Minister and showered flowers on him.

Adhikari waved at the gathering, accepted greetings and returned the gesture by scattering flower petals on the crowd.

He began the road show after offering puja and performing arati at a temple, with chants of “Jai Shri Ram” filling the air as BJP supporters assembled in large numbers.

Adhikari boarded an open-hood vehicle for the road show in support of party candidate Debangshu Panda.

The area wore a festive look, with BJP flags adorning roads and rooftops as supporters raised slogans.

In a symbolic gesture, Adhikari stopped for lunch at the home of Swapan Mondal, a BJP supporter who died during alleged Trinamool Congress-backed violence following the 2021 Assembly polls.

Locals participating in the rally alleged that for over a decade they had been unable to exercise their franchise freely due to intimidation by what they described as “Trinamool Congress-backed goons” operating under the influence of jailed strongman Shahjahan Sheikh.

Several alleged that they had been forced out of their homes for backing the BJP and were prevented from casting votes.

Speaking about the public response, Adhikari said the gathering reflected a “second independence for Sanatani people”, who had long been suppressed.

“In my over 30 years in politics, this is the most overwhelming experience,” he said.

The procession passed through several parts of the constituency, with BJP workers projecting it as a show of strength ahead of the repoll.

Party supporters claimed public enthusiasm had increased after the BJP formed the government in the state earlier this month.

The Falta repoll has drawn political attention as the constituency falls within Diamond Harbour, the parliamentary constituency of Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

No rally or public meeting was conducted in the constituency by senior party leaders, including former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, during the campaign period since May 4.

Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the contest.

Speaking on Khan’s withdrawal, Adhikari said the TMC candidate “ran away” from the May 21 re-election as he would not get polling agents.

“He had no other way, as he would not get a polling agent, so he decided to run away,” the Chief Minister told reporters.

Re-election was ordered in the Falta Assembly segment following allegations of large-scale electoral malpractice.

A video purportedly showing Khan announcing his decision to withdraw from the race has gone viral on social media.