Saumitra Khan

In the 2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, Khan was elected to the assembly from Katulpur constituency as a candidate of the Indian National Congress.^[11] On 12 December 2013, he announced his intention to join the ruling Trinamool Congress. He alleged that the state Congress unit was ignoring the Bankura district.^[12] Four days later, he officially joined Trinamool Congress.^[11]

In 2014 Indian general election, Khan was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Bishnupur constituency. After getting elected, he said that his priority as an MP would be to develop Bishnupur as a tourist spot and to protect the rights of workers who make Baluchari Sari.^[13] On 9 January 2019, he defected to Bharatiya Janata Party. Subsequently, he was expelled by his former party.^[14] The Times of India reported that Mukul Roy, who himself defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party played an important role in recruiting Khan.^[15] The "dynastic rule" in the Trinamool Congress and the political violence in the state were the reasons cited by Khan to switch parties.^[16]

In February 2019 it was alleged that Khan had extorted money from job aspirants on false promises.^[17] The Kolkata High Court announced that he could not be arrested though it prevented him from entering Bankura.^[17] In the following month, Khan was interrogated by the Bankura police.^[18] On 12 April, the Supreme Court of India refused to overturn the ban on him although he was allowed to enter the district for filing his nomination papers.^[19] In the absence of Khan, his wife Sujata Khan started campaigning for him for the upcoming general election.^[20] Khan managed to win from the same constituency with a margin of 78,047 votes even without holding any roadshow or addressing any political rally.^[21][22][23]

• Saumitra Khan on Facebook
• Saumitra Khan on Instagram