West Bengal Bypolls: CM Mamata Banerjee Officially Named TMC Candidate For Bhabanipur, Know About Others

Banerjee, who lost the election in Nandigram to her protégé-turned-rival BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, has to win this by-poll to retain her post.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (File Pic)

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday officially announced West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as its candidate for the Bhabanipur by-election.

This comes as the TMC’s campaign in the seat in south Kolkata is already underway with the Election Commission of India announcing the by-poll on Saturday following the state government’s request to avoid a constitutional crisis, PTI reported.

READ: 'Will Hang Myself Publicly If Corruption Allegation Proved': TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Ahead Of Appearance Before ED

Banerjee, who lost the election in Nandigram to her protégé-turned-rival BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, has to win this by-poll to retain her post.

TMC’s Sovandeb Chattopadhyay stepped down as the MLA of Bhabanipur, giving his party supremo an opportunity to become a member of the state assembly by contesting the by-poll.

Banerjee has to become a member of the state legislature by November 5.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and CPI (M)-led Left Front are yet to announce their candidates for the by-poll.

The by-poll will be held on September 30 along with the elections to two seats Samserganj and Jangipur in Murshidabad district where polling could not be held during the eight-phase assembly polls earlier this year.

Jakir Hossain is the TMC’s candidate from Jangipur, while the party has fielded Amirul Islam from Samserganj.

The counting of votes will take place on October 3.

The notification beginning the nomination process for the Bhabanipur by-poll will be issued on September 6. The last date of filing the nominations is September 13, while scrutiny of papers will take place the nest day.

The last date to withdraw from the contest is September 16.