Kolkata: With the month of October, which coincides with the festive season in the state approaching, the pending Assembly by-elections in October looks highly impossible at this point of time. And as per provisions, unless elections are concluded by November 2, 2021, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might have to resign. Is West Bengal heading for these elections in the month of September itself? Or will there be a juggling at the hustings to protect Mamata? These are the questions that are precisely making the rounds in the political circles now.
Although the Election Commission of India is yet to announce the days for the by-polls, Trinamool Congress leadership is counting the days. To avoid the resignation of the chief minister they want the polls to be concluded at the earliest. On Wednesday, party sources said that they are approaching the ECI once again shortly demanding early elections. Five MPs of the party might go to the ECI office with this demand.
While Trinamool Congress is desperate for early polls, the principal opposition party, BJP has demanded that the by-polls should not be conducted unless and until there is adequate vaccination in the state. Sources from ECI said that the commission has already taken the necessary initiatives and asked the district magistrates the preparatory process for the polls.
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Sources also said that even a large section within the commission is willing to complete the poll process by the end of September. Getting government officers and staff for the purpose of elections will be extremely difficult during the festive month of October.
The results for the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections were announced on May 2, 2021. As per ECI rules, Mamata Banerjee will have to get elected in any by- election by November 2, 2021 if she wants to continue as the chief minister of the state. Now the question is what will be the exact date of the voting.
As per ECI rules, elections can be conducted on the 24th day after the announcement of the polling dates. Generally, the commission retains 10 days for taking the preparatory steps and the candidates get 14 days of time to campaign.
When contacted the political scientist and former registrar of Calcutta University , Rajagopal Dhar Chakrabarty said under all circumstances elections will be concluded before November if Mamata Banerjee has to continue as the chief minister. "Conducting elections during the festive month of October is virtually impossible. So by all means the polls will have to be concluded by September. But one should remember that for assembly by-polls only ECI can say the final word. If the ECI decides to postpone the polls for any reason, neither any state government nor any political party will be in a position to do anything. But since the impact of COVID-19 in the state is much less now, we can expect the ECI to complete the election process by September," he added.
