Mamata Banerjee must win crucial Bhawanipore bypolls to retain CM post

The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced by-elections to three seats in West Bengal including Bhawanipore Constituency from where TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is expected to contest.

Mamata Banerjee needs to win the by-poll to get elected as MLA and continue to be the Chief Minister. Mamata is expected to file nominations from Bhawanipore in Kolkata which was vacated by TMC candidate Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay after the poll results.

Mamata had given up her stronghold of Bhawanipore to contest from Nandigram and lost her seat to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari with a narrow margin in the state assembly polls.

The announcement comes as the TMC had gone to EC thrice to conduct the by-polls. TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh said they have ‘placed arguments favouring election now, as Covid-19 has decreased.

According to an Election Commission press note, the West Bengal chief secretary has informed that in view of administrative exigencies and public interest and to avoid a vacuum in the state, bye-elections may be conducted.

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The by-polls will also be conducted in Samserganj and Jangipur. The by-polls to the three seats will be conducted on September 30 and the results will be declared on October 3.

The EC has also announced that Covid-19 guidelines have to be strictly followed. It has banned roadshows and no bike rallies are allowed. In an indoor campaign setup, only 30 percent capacity or 200 people, whichever is less, will be allowed.