TMC TEAM TO MEET EC FOR HOLDING EARLY BYPOLLS IN BENGAL

A delegation led by six senior MPs of the Trinamool Congress is likely to meet the officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI) today urging the commission to hold bypolls in seven Assembly seats in West Bengal.

Earlier, the Bengal government had told the poll panel that elections could be held earlier, as the Covid-19 cases are declining.

As per the sources, the Trinamool delegation will go to the Election Commission and demand that the election be held within seven days of the campaign.

At present, there are five by-elections and two bypolls in the state. The Election Commission has already been informed by the state government that the state administration is ready for the by-elections. As at the moment, the pandemic situation in the state is under control. The Chief Minister herself wants the Election Commission to hold the by-elections as soon as possible. Although, Trinamool sources have said that the postponement of by-election may happen.

That is why the ruling party of the state is going directly to the commission to persuade them for the early conduction of the polls, sources said.

Bhabanipur center among the centers where the elections are pending and CM Mamata Banerjee will contest the election from that center. The Chief Minister will have to be elected as MLA within six months of taking the oath, as she was defeated in Nandigram. Besides, by-polls are pending in Kharadha, Dinhata, Shantipur, and Gosaba constituencies. Moreover, due to the death of the candidates, voting did not take place in Samsherganj and Jangipur centers of Murshidabad.

Although the Trinamool wants a quick by-election, the BJP wants to leave the matter to the Election Commission. Nevertheless, the BJP has been vocal in demanding a state referendum. BJP leader Shamik Bhattacharya said, “If the commission thinks that by-elections are possible in the state within seven days of preparation, so be it. But we do not think that the law and order situation in the state at the moment is conducive to holding by-elections. Because from Kochbihar to Kakdwip, our workers are homeless everywhere. BJP workers are not being given rations and vaccinations. As a result, by-elections should be held as soon as the law and order situation improves.”

On the other hand, Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh, said, “The situation is much better now. According to the constitutional rules, by-elections should be held within six months. Since the Covid-19 infection rate is very low and the state government has taken all necessary measures, this is the ideal time to hold elections. Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also said that a pre-poll would be held in the state in due course after the Election Commission has held by-elections.”