Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is likely to approach the Election Commission to complain about alleged rigging during counting of votes in Nandigram where West Bengal Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee reportedly lost to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Suvendu Adhikari by around 1,953 votes in a closely fought contest.
Reports suggest the TMC, which earlier this evening appealed to the people not to speculate while stating the counting process for Nandigram has not been completed, may also file a plea in this regard in the Calcutta High Court.
“The counting process for Nandigram has not been completed. Please do not speculate,” the party’s posted on its official Twitter handle.
However, she said that, "I accept the verdict. But I will move the Court because I have information that after the declaration of results there were some manipulations done and I will reveal those."
In an exclusive conversation with ABP Ananda Editor, Banerjee told her party will approach the election commission and press for recounting of votes.
Chief Electoral Officer Arif Aftab told ABP Ananda that there could be recounting in Nandigram regarding which final decision would be taken by the Returning Officer.
TMC MP Derek O’ Brien also seemed to be disappointed with the controversy surrounding the Nandigram results.
“For winning a greater battle, you must sacrifice something. @MamataOfficial,” he posted on the micro-blogging platform.
This controversy, however, puts forward a moot question as to who will be the next Chief Minister of West Bengal if the TMC supremo loses the Nandigram seat.
As per Articles 163 and 164 of the Constitution, a Chief Minister or a Council of Minister needs to be the member of the legislative assembly.
“The chief minister is elected through a majority in the state legislative assembly. This is procedurally established by the vote of confidence in the legislative assembly, as suggested by the governor of the state who is the appointing authority,” it reads.
TMC may have retained power in West Bengal but Mamatas loss would technically give her six months to get elected as the member of the legislative assembly. To necessitate this, an MLA from her party would have to give up his/her seat for bypolls to be conducted. This seat is usually considered to be a safe seat where the chances of winning is quite high. With this Mamata would stand a chance to emerge victorious from the seat and become a member of the 294-member West Bengal assembly.
“A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister,” according to Article 164.
In the 2016 state polls, Suvendu Adhikari won the Nandigram seat on a All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) ticket. He secured 1,34,623 votes as against 53,393 votes captured by Abdul Kabir Sekh of the Communist Party of India (CPI).
Adhikari thanked the voters of Nandigram for reelecting him and vowed to work for their welfare relentlessly." My sincere thanks to the great People of Nandigram for their love, trust, blessings, and support, and for choosing me as their representative and the MLA from #Nandigram. It is my never-ending commitment to be of service to them and working for their welfare. I am truly grateful!"