KOLKATA
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee feels that the Covid-19 situation in West Bengal is now under control. So, if the Election Commission wants, it can fix the by-election phase in the state now. This was stated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a press conference on Wednesday. “The situation is much better now,” she said and added, “If the commission wants, it can vote now. I know that the EC will announce the by-election as soon as the Prime Minister says so. I would, therefore, urge the Prime Minister to take that initiative. “
Mamata was defeated in Nandigram in the Assembly elections. According to the rules, a government must win a seat within six months of its formation. For this, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, MLA of Bhabanipur, Mamata’s previous seat, has already resigned from the assembly. He is the Minister of Agriculture. So he too has to win from any seat. According to TMC sources, Sovandeb can be a candidate in the Kharadha constituency. Kajal Sinha, who won the seat, died before the results were announced. There should be by-elections according to the rules. State Finance Minister Amit Mitra was also not a candidate in the Assembly elections. He too has to win in six months.
Two seats in the state were not polled after the death of the candidates during the Assembly elections. Mamata also mentioned the two seats and said, “We want the two constituencies to go to the polls soon. Covid is now in control.”