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TMC KNOCKS EC DOORS FOR OCT BYPOLLS, BJP CITES COVID TO HOLD IT IN NOV

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday requested the Election Commission to immediately hold the by-elections in the state, including for the Bhawanipur seat, from which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to contest in order to retain her top post. The state BJP, however, does not want the elections before 5 November. Elections are scheduled […]

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday requested the Election Commission to immediately hold the by-elections in the state, including for the Bhawanipur seat, from which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to contest in order to retain her top post. The state BJP, however, does not want the elections before 5 November.

Elections are scheduled for seven Assembly constituencies in the state. Due to deaths of candidates, there was no voting in the Assembly elections in Jangipur and Shamserganj. Despite winning the election, Kharjal’s Trinamool candidate Kajal Singh died due to Covid-19 before the results were declared. Gosabar Trinamool MLA Jayanta Naskar died after taking oath as MLA. Two BJP MPs resigned as MLAs of Dinhata and Shantipur. Even after winning Bhawanipur, Minister Shobhandev Chatterjee resigned as MLA for Mamata Banerjee.

The TMC has already started preparations for the Bhawanipur seat, assuming that there will be a vote before the pujas in October. Incidentally, Mamata Banerjee herself has repeatedly said that there is a “positive” situation in the state for holding the by-elections. In the words of the Chief Minister, Covid infections in some wards of Bhawanipur are “Zero! Zero! Zero!”

But the state BJP wants the polls to not take place before 5 November. In that case, Mamata Banerjee will have to resign from the post of Chief Minister for at least one day, as she was sworn in as the Chief Minister on 5 May. As per constitutional norms, she must be elected to the Assembly within six months.

The state BJP has said from the outset that the party’s central leadership will make a statement in this regard. However, on Wednesday, Dilip Ghosh said, “Covid rules have been introduced in the state. Schools, colleges, and trains remain closed. How will the election be held in this situation? If you want an election, let everything be normal!”

Armed with the state government’s Covid norms, the state BJP has said that local trains remain closed in Bengal and buses are running with a few passengers. Due to Covid-19, the Opposition is also not being allowed to carry out its political programmes. A few days ago, police arrested top BJP leaders, including Dilip Ghosh, Subhendu Adhikari, and former Union Minister Debashree Chowdhury. In addition, there is a risk of a third wave in September-October. The pujas are in October.

Apart from this, the BJP has also given some “political arguments”. It has been said that the state government has blocked the elections of 122 municipalities due to the Covid situation. According to BJP sources, the Trinamool Congress government is running with full majority in the state. As a result, the government will not be in crisis even if by-elections are not held in seven Assembly seats.

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