EC Announces By-Elections For Bhabanipur In Bengal On Sept 30, Mamata Banerjee To Contest
The election commission has announced by-polls in the Bhabanipur constituency where Mamata Banerjee intends to contest to continue holding the post of West Bengal Chief Minister.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has decided to hold a by-election in Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency (West Bengal) on 30th September. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest the by-polls.
Polls will also be held in Samserganj and Jangipur of West Bengal and Pipli (Odisha) on the date.
The counting of votes will be conducted on 3rd October.
However, by-polls for 31 other constituencies have been deferred in light of the COVID-19 situation, the Election Commission added.
According to the press release by the Election Commission, the Chief Secretary West Bengal informed that COVID-19 situation is fully under control and the flood situation in the state has not affected the poll-bound Assembly Constituencies and the State is fully geared up to hold the elections.
The press release further cited that under Article 164(4) of the Constitution of India, a Minister who is not a member of the Legislature of the State for a period of six consecutive months shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister and there will be a constitutional crisis and vacuum in the top executive posts in the Government unless elections are held immediately.
Hence, the poll conducting body has decided to conduct the by-polls in Bhabanipur in the public interest and to avoid a vacuum in the state, as Mamata Banerjee intends to contest for the seat.
Bhabanipur Assembly seat was CM Mamata's erstwhile constituency before she decided to contest from Nandigram against her former lieutenant and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari.
CM Banerjee, who lost from the Nandigram constituency against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in state assembly elections, has to be elected as an MLA by early November to continue on her post.
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