Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Saturday, cleared hurdles for West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee to contest from Bhabanipur assembly constituency in Kolkata, get elected from there and thus retain her CM position. The commission on Saturday announced that the by-polls from Bhabanipur assembly constituency will be conducted on September 30, 2021 and the results will be announced on October 3, 2021.
This means that the chief minister will have the chance to get elected little less than a month before the expiry of the six- month term on November 2, failing which she would have to resign from her chief ministerial position. Although five assembly constituencies from West Bengal are scheduled for by-polls, ECI on Monday only announced the by-poll dates for Bhabanipur, which the chief minister is believed to be contesting.
On Saturday. ECI also announced that elections for two assembly constituencies namely Jangipur and Samsergunj on September 30 and the results will be announced on October 3. Both Jangipur and Samsergunj could not go for polls in May this year as one candidate from each of these two constituencies died. However, on Saturday, the ECI was silent on when the by-polls for the remaining four assembly constituencies would be announced.
To recall, although Trinamool Congress was back in power in 2021 assembly elections bagging over 200 seats, Mamata Banerjee, herself could not get elected from Nandigram assembly constituency. So as per constitutional norms, she had to get elected from any assembly constituency within six months to retain the chair of the chief minister. To make room for her, Trinamool Congress MLA from Bhabanipur, Sobhondeb Chattopadhyay resigned from that constituency.
Read: Bypolls in West Bengal on Sept 30, results on Oct 3
The decision of the ECI has brought a major relief for Trinamool Congress leadership. Unless the by- election process had been completed by November 2, 2021 and had not Mamata Banerjee got herself elected from any constituency by then it could have led to constitutional crisis. Precisely, that is why Trinamool Congress had been insisting on the early conclusion of elections. On the other hand, BJP had been pressing for postponement of by- elections, on grounds that the COVID-19 situation is not conducive for polls.
When contacted Trinamool Congress spokesman and party legislator, Tapas Roy told ETV Bharat that ECI took some time to announce its decision but they deserve kudos for taking the decision at last. Also they believe that elections will be conducted in a democratic manner. "We are happy that the by-polls will be concluded before the forthcoming festive season. We are ready for the elections anytime of the year. So we will not have any problem in facing the polls," he said.
CPI(M)'s central committee members, Robin Deb and Dr Sujan Chakraborty also expressed satisfaction over the development and said that they are happy that the by-polls are being held as per constitutional provisions. While expressing hope that the by-polls will be conducted following COVID- 19 protocols and without any violence, both Deb and Chakrabarty, said that the state government and the West Bengal Election Commission should now take initiative to conduct the polls for the different municipalities and municipal corporations in the state as well. Congress leader, Suvankar Sarkar too expressed his pleasure over the ECI's decision.
While BJP's state vice- president in West Bengal, Jaiprakash Majumdar was cautious in giving his reaction. "Surely, the ECI would have taken this decision after keenly studying the situation. Hence we are accepting it and ready to face the polls."
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