A dramatic confrontation unfolded in Falta, approximately 40 kilometers from Kolkata, on Tuesday, pitting an IPS officer known as 'Singham' against a Trinamool Congress candidate who likened himself to 'Pushpa'. The incident began on Monday when IPS officer and DIG Ajay Pal Sharma, an 'encounter specialist' renowned for his tough stance in Uttar Pradesh, visited the residence of Trinamool candidate Jahangir Khan and cautioned his family to remain vigilant.
Confrontation and Defiance
The following day, Jahangir's convoy nearly crossed paths with Sharma, prompting Trinamool workers to raise slogans of 'Joy Bangla' and 'Go Back'. Undeterred, Jahangir declared, "If he is Singham, then I am Pushpa. Jhukega Nahi (I will not bow down). In 'Sholay', we saw: 'Jo darr gaya, woh mar gaya' (He who is scared is dead). In Jahangir Khan's dictionary, the word 'fear' does not exist."
Social Media Firestorm
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra escalated the tension on social media by sharing archived videos on 'X' showing a man dancing at a nightclub, tagging the officer and calling him a 'Fair and Lovely babua'. She remarked, "Good to see you enjoying yourself ... Hope your policing skills are better than your dancing skills." A BJP spokesperson declined to comment, stating the post "speaks of her taste."
Sharma's Actions and EC Response
When contacted by TOI, Sharma refused to comment, citing his duty to refrain from media interaction and directing all queries to the Election Commission. On Tuesday morning, he visited a neighborhood near Jahangir's party office. As his vehicle departed, Trinamool supporters chanted slogans. Undeterred, Sharma's cavalcade continued from Falta to Amtala later in the day, with him visiting the area near Jahangir's office twice.
Hours later, the Election Commission removed Falta's Joint BDO, Sourav Hazra, following allegations of bias. Ramya Bhattacharya has been appointed as the new Joint BDO. EC sources clarified that Hazra's transfer is unrelated to the controversy.
Complaints and Reactions
A local woman, Monalisa Patra Das, filed a complaint against Sharma for allegedly intimidating women. Breaking his silence, Jahangir told reporters, "He threatened my colleagues and my family. Is this the duty of a police observer? There is no EC rule that says a police observer can go and threaten people at their houses. He is acting above the law."
BJP's chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar stated that the EC would determine the appropriateness of the actions but added that if the public is prevented from voting, they will resist, and "no one can save Trinamool then."
EC Downplays Incident
The EC played down the incident, with officials stating that Sharma could report the gatherings and protests to the EC, but the CEO was not yet requesting a report from him. Trinamool intensified its attacks, with senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya asserting, "EC guidelines stipulate that observers are only its eyes and ears, whose job is to observe and report. We are aware of his background, including complaints lodged against him by women." Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined the attack, calling Sharma a "BJP agent." (Written with inputs from Kaushik Pradhan & Subrata Chattoraj in Kolkata)
