The Election Commission's decision to hold byelections in three of the seven constituencies in West Bengal has come as a surprise to many.
The commission said in a press statement on Saturday that byelections in Samserganj and Jangipur of Murshidabad district and in Bhabanipur of Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to contest, will be held on September 30. Elections in Samserganj and Jangipur had been deferred following the death of the candidates.
Meanwhile, the commission's decision to leave four other constituencies—Khardah, Dinhata, Shantipur and Gosaba—untouched has raised several eyebrows.
If COVID-19 cases are to be considered, according to official figures available till now, cases are lowest in Coochbehar, Nadia and South 24 Parganas. The cases are little high in North 24 Parganas and Kolkata—more than 100 infection per day. But it is not known why the constituencies in the almost Covid-free districts of South 24 Paragans, Nadia and Cooch Behar are not going to poll.
Shantipur constituency in Nadia fell vacant following the resignation of winning candidate Jagannath Sarkar who is also an MP from Ranaghat.
Nisith Adhikari, who is now the Union Minister of State for Home, won Dinhata seat but resigned later.
Jayanta Nashkar and Kajal Sinha, the MLAs from Gosaba and Khardha respectively, died due to Covid shortly after being elected.
"Very unfortunate. The commission did not respect the People's Representatives Act. They succumbed to the pressure tactics of West Bengal's acting chief minister. The commission made itself a laughing stock," said BJP leader Shamik Bhattacharya.
Many other leaders wondered if election could be held in Pipili of Odisha why it can't be held in other seats in Bengal.
The TMC also felt that bypolls in seven seats in the state should have been held together.
"We wanted all byelections together. Byelection cannot be held in phases. But we will accept commission's decision," said Partha Chatterjee, the TMC secretary general.
A commission official told THE WEEK, "The chief Secretary reported to us that there might be Constitutional crisis in Bengal if Bhabanipur election is not held. Secondly, the EC can quash the theory that it is against the Bengal CM. Third, the case of CM's election has gone to court and the EC is answerable to court."
Many are questioning the claims of Chief Secretary H.K. Dwivedi that Banerjee not getting elected in time could become a sort of Constitutional impasse in the state when the TMC enjoys huge majority in the assembly.
With the declaration of election, the model code of conduct has come into force in the state. Chief Minister Banerjee would not attend any development project. She has cancelled her North Bengal trip. Sources said Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit North Bengal in the middle of this month to take part in a meeting for permanent political solution for North Bengal. Banerjee is unlikely to attend the meeting and may send her representatives, instead.
The decision of the Election Commission is being criticised by political parties, but at the same time construed as interesting when the BJP MPs are demanding bifurcation or trifurcation of the state.
The elections in Murshidabad would give the Congress an opportunity to open its account in Bengal Assembly as Samsergunj and Jangipur are their strongholds.