Mamata Banerjee has to win the by-poll being conducted in Bhabanipur to retain the Chief Minister’s post. Polling began at 7 AM in this ward on Thursday.
Earlier, Mamata Banerjee lost from the Nandigram constituency in the assembly elections held in May. Polling began peacefully at 7AM on Thursday for the by-poll to the Bhabanipur seat.
Apart from this, two other constituencies are also going for polls amid tight security. Stringent COVID-19 measures are also being followed during the polls.
The two constituencies are Jangipur and Samsergunj in Murshirabad district. The by-polls are countermanded as two of the candidates died after the elections.
A total of 6,97,164 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the three constituencies. However, the counting will be done on October 3.
It became compulsory for Mamata Banerjee to win this election as she lost from the Nandigram constituency. Only then can she retain her Chief Minister’s post.
The Election commission deployed 72 companies of central forces in all the three constituencies. As part of the elaborate security arrangements around 35 are stationed in Bhabaniour alone.
Moreover, section 144 of the CrPC is imposed within 200 meters of the polling centres. Subsequently, long queues were seen early morning outside the polling booths. Masks, sanitizers are stocked up to ensure COVID-19 guidelines are followed.
Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress Supremo is contesting against BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal and CPI(M)’s Srijib Biswas in Bhabanipur.
