New Delhi:  The crucial byelection in the states of West Bengal and Odisha begun at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security and strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols. The elections are being held in south Kolkata's Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting the polls, Jangipur and Samserganj in Murshidabad district.


In Odisha, voting for byelection to the Pipili assembly seat in Puri district has begun. A total of 6,97,164 voters will be exercising their franchise in the three constituencies. Votes will be counted on October 3.


ALSO READ: Chhattisgarh Congress MLAs Storm Delhi Amid Punjab Turmoil, Another Crisis Awaits Gandhis?


The Bengal election holds significance for Banerjee because she has to win this bypoll to retain the chief minister post. She lost from Nandigram constituency in the assembly elections earlier this year. BJP has pitched Priyanka Tibrewal against Mamata Banerjee from Bhabanipur constituency.



Polls had to be countermanded in Jangipur and Samserganj in April following the death of two candidates. As part of its elaborate security arrangements, the Election Commission has deployed 72 companies of central forces in the three constituencies, of which 35 are stationed in Bhabanipur alone, the officials said.


Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed within 200 metres of the polling centres. Long queues were seen since early morning outside several booths across the constituencies. Voting will continue till 6 pm.


Voting In Odisha's Pipli


Meanwhile, around 2.30 lakh voters in Odisha will decide the fate of 10 candidates, including the ruling BJD's Rudrapratap Maharathy, Ashrit Pattnaik of the BJP and Congress nominee Bishwokeshan Harichandan Mohapatra.


There are close to 2,000 security personnel to ensure peaceful voting in Pipili, which has a history of poll violence.


People were seen standing in queues outside the polling booths, where markings have been drawn on the ground to enable voters to maintain social distancing, the officials said. Voters are also undergoing thermal screening and provided with hand gloves, as per directions of the Election Commission.



Polling will continue till 6 pm. The byelection was necessitated following the death of BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy in October last year. The bypoll was first scheduled to be held on April 17, but it was countermanded after Congress candidate Ajit Mangaraj died of Covid-19 on April 14.


It was then scheduled for May 13, but got deferred due to a festival. The byelection was subsequently rescheduled for May 16. However, once again, it was postponed in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic.


Votes will be counted on October 3.


(With inputs from PTI)