2021 by-polls[edit | edit source]
AITC MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay from Bhabanipur resigned after the election to allow Mamata Banerjee to contest a by-election in the constituency.[1]
In the beginning of September, the ECI announced that general elections for Jangipur and Samserganj assembly seats and by-election for Bhabanipur seat would be held on 30 September and votes would be counted on 3 October. The time limit for filing nominations was set from 6 September until 13 September for Bhabanipur only.[2][3][4] Mamata Banerjee filed hers on 10 September.[5][6] A total of 12 candidates contested in Bhabanipur by-poll.[7][8] Kishor enrolled himself as a voter from Bhabanipur, but he did not cast his vote.[9][10]
A total of 52 central forces companies were deployed to the three poll-bound Assembly constituencies' booths.[11][12][13][14] Section 144 was enforced in Bhabanipur on 28 September.[15][16] On the eve of polling, the Commission deployed an additional 20 companies of central forces in Bhabanipur.[17][18][19]
On 28 September, the ECI announced that remaining by-polls would be held on 30 October and votes counted on 2 November.[20][21]
On 30 September the first report of violence came from Samserganj, and Congress candidate Jaidur Rahaman was accused of carrying out a bombing in this constituency.[22] TMC activists raised "go back" slogans surrounding him while he inspected booths on polling day. Central forces were accused of kicking TMC leader Habibur Rahman, the outgoing councilor of Ward 20 of Dhulian Municipality under Samserganj Assembly.[23][24] Priyanka Tibrewal, BJP candidate of Bhabanipur, was accused of violating the ECI's model code of conduct by travelling across the area with many cars and people at once.[25][26] After she claimed to have caught fake voters, Firhad Hakim pointed out that as a candidate she had no right to check their identities.[27] BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey's car was allegedly vandalised in Bhabanipur and BJP blamed TMC for the act.[28] Police released CCTV footage of the incident, claiming it had nothing to do with politics.[29][30] BJP claimed that Chaubey was their candidate's election agent but according to Commission sources, he was the agent of a Hindustani Awam Morcha candidate. The vehicle he used to get to the polling constituency was not registered by the EC. BJP lodged a total of 23 complaints against TMC over the voting process in Bhabanipur, but the ECI dismissed all of them.[31] A total of 697,164 voters were eligible to cast their votes in the three constituencies.[32][33][34][35] The voter turnout for Samserganj, Jangipur, and Bhabanipur was recorded at 79.92%, 77.63%, and 57.09% respectively.[36][37]
Results were announced on 3 October, with TMC winning the three seats.[38] Mamata Banerjee won the Bhabanipur Assembly seat by a margin of 58,835 votes over the BJP candidate.[39][40][41] TMC led in all wards of Bhabanipur, including wards 70 and 74, where BJP led in the last assembly polls.[42] On the same day, TMC officially announced a list of candidates for upcoming assembly by-elections to four seats.[43]
The Model Code of Conduct was imposed in Nadia, Cooch Behar, Khardaha, and Gosaba.[44] The ECI initially deployed 27 companies of central forces for the remaining by-elections.[45][46] A week before the by-elections, an additional 53 companies entered the state.[47] Later, the ECI decided to deploy a total of 92 CAPF companies.[48]
On the last day of the Dinhata by-election campaign, Dilip Ghosh and Sukanta Majumdar met the deputy inspector general of police, Shailendra Kumar Singh, at the Border Security Force sector headquarters of Sonari in Cooch Behar. This was controversial because the Chief Minister could not even hold administrative meetings with Cooch Behar district officials, as the model code of conduct was in effect. Reacting to this, Hakim said "Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has increased the jurisdiction of BSF to 50 km.[49][50][51] Taking advantage of this, the BJP leaders went to pull the BSF chief over to their side." TMC lodged a complaint with the ECI.[52][53] A TMC deputy went to the district magistrate's chamber and complained that the BSF-BJP meeting had violated the model code of conduct.[54]
On polling day, central forces were accused of intimidating voters at booth 296 in Dinhata and some other booths in Kharadaha and Gosaba.[55][56] In Kharadha, the central forces prevented TMC candidate Sovandeb Chattopadhyay from entering a booth, who alleged that they unfairly demanded to see double vaccination certificates from voters. The problem was resolved after informing the matter to the presiding officer.[57][58] During the election campaign, Joy Saha, BJP candidate of Khardaha, used a picture of the deceased TMC leader Kajal Sinha in his campaign.[59] On election day, he claimed to have caught two fake voters red-handed, which was proven false. When he claimed to have caught a fake voter and BJP supporters started harassing the man, a fight broke out between the TMC and the BJP over the incident.[60] Joy Saha's personal security guards baton charged TMC activists, injuring the Sinha's son in the process.[61][62] Gosaba registered highest voter turnout among four constituencies.[63][64]
The results of the four constituencies was announced on 2 November, with TMC winning all seats.[65] TMC's Sovandeb Chattopadhyay and Subrata Mondal won Khardaha[66] and Gosaba,[67] respectively, by huge margins. Udayan Guha, who lost the Dinhata seat by a margin of 57 votes during the assembly election, won the seat in the bypolls by a margin of 164,089 votes.[68] TMC also won the Santipur seat, where Braja Kishor Goswami[69] was the TMC candidate, from the BJP by a considerable margin of votes.[70]
2021–2026 by-elections[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The seat fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLA Sadhan Pande on 20 February 2022. However, by-polls to the seat couldn't be held even after 6 months of Pande's death (according to Indian law) because BJP candidate Kalyan Chaubey filed an election petition in the Calcutta High Court alleging irregularities in polling & demanded a recount of votes. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 forbids holding any polls to the seat until any election petition concerning that seat hasn't been resolved at the court.[84] On 29 April 2024, Choubey withdrew his election petition from the court, making way for by-poll to the seat.[85]
- ↑ "WB CM Mamata Banerjee To Contest By-Election From Bhawanipore After TMC MLA's Resignation". news.abplive.com. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ↑ "Schedule to fill casual vacancy and adjourned poll in the Assembly Constituencies – regarding". Election Commission of India. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ↑ "EC announces bypoll schedule for 3 West Bengal seats, relief for Mamata Banerjee". The Times of India. 4 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ↑ "EC announces bypoll for Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in Bengal". The Hindu. 4 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ↑ "Mamata Banerjee files nomination for upcoming by-election in Bhabanipur Assembly constituency". NewsOnAir. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ↑ "West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee files papers for crucial bypoll, BJP pits gritty lawyer against her". The Times of India. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ↑ "Yoga trainer, pickle seller among 11 to take on Mamata in bypoll". The Times of India. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ↑ "Bhabanipur by election: From yoga trainer to pickle seller… know who is contesting against Mamta Banerjee from Bhawanipur seat and why?". The Indian Nation. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ↑ "Bengal Assembly Bypolls: Prashant Kishor Enrolled As Voter From Bhabanipur; BJP Calls Him 'Bahiragato'". india.com. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ↑ "Prashant Kishor enrolls himself as voter from Mamata's Bhabanipur constituency; triggers controversy". The Tribune. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ↑ "BJP plea: Central forces in booths of three constituencies". The Telegraph. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Assembly bypolls: 52 companies of central forces may be deployed". The Statesman. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission to deploy central forces for Bengal bypolls". The Telegraph. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ↑ "ভবানীপুর, সামশেরগঞ্জ, জঙ্গিপুর-কোথায় কত ভোটার, থাকছে কত বাহিনী, জানুন বিস্তারিত". The Wall (in Bengali). 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ↑ "Section 144 imposed in Bengal's Bhabanipur from today till end of bypoll". India Today. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ↑ "Bhabanipur bypolls: Section 144 imposed in 200-metre radius of polling stations till voting ends on September 30". The Free Press Journal. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ↑ "Security beefed up for Bhabanipur bypoll, 20 additional CAPF companies to be deployed". India Today. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ↑ "Unprecedented Security Arrangements Made For Bhabanipur Bypoll". Ommcom News. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ↑ "Bhabanipur Bypolls Tomorrow: More Than 20 Additional Companies Of CAPF Deployed | Details Here". india.com. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ↑ "Schedule for Bye-elections in Parliamentary/Assembly Constituencies of various States – reg". Election Commission of India. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ↑ "Three Lok Sabha, 30 Assembly Seats to Go for By-elections on Oct 30: Election Commission". News18. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ↑ "West Bengal by-polls: Congress leader accused of bombing in Samserganj area, TMC calls it 'bid to intimidate voters'". The Economic Times. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ↑ "Samserganj Jangipur By Election: ভোটারদের মাস্ক দিতে গিয়ে কেন্দ্রীয় বাহিনীর লাথি খেলেন বিদায়ী কাউন্সিলর! বৃদ্ধ নেতার চোখ ছলছল". TV9 Bangla (in Bengali). 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ "Jangipur and Samsherganj Poll: বৃষ্টি নিয়েই বিক্ষিপ্ত অশান্তির ভোট জঙ্গিপুর এবং শমসেরগঞ্জে, প্রতীক্ষা রবিবারের". Anandabazar Patrika Online (in Bengali). 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ WB Bypolls 2021: ভোটারদের 'ভোট দিতে বাধা' দিচ্ছে BJP, দেবেন্দ্র ঘোষ রোডে বিক্ষোভে বাসিন্দারা| (in Bengali). ABP ANANDA. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ ভবানীপুর কেন্দ্রে বুথ পরিভ্রমণে প্রিয়াঙ্কা টিব্রেওয়ালের বিরুদ্ধে অভিযোগ (in Bengali). Kolkata Tv. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ WB Bypolls 2021: 'ভুয়ো ভোটার ধরার প্রিয়ঙ্কা টিবরেওয়ালের অধিকার নেই', মন্তব্য ফিরহাদের| Bangla News (in Bengali). ABP ANANDA. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ বিজেপি নেতা কল্যান চৌবের গাড়ি ভাঙচুর (in Bengali). Kolkata Tv. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ WB By Poll 2021: গাড়ি ভাঙচুরে রাজনৈতিক কোনও সম্পর্ক নেই, সিসিটিভি ফুটেজ প্রকাশ করে দাবি পুলিশের (in Bengali). ABP ANANDA. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ বিজেপি নেতা কল্যান চৌবের গাড়ি ভাংচুরের সিসিটিভি ফুটেজ (in Bengali). Kolkata Tv. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "বঙ্গের ৩ বিধানসভা আসনে ভোট: সামসেরগঞ্জের ৯ কেন্দ্রে ফের ভোটের দাবি কংগ্রেসের". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ "আজ ভোট মমতার | নির্বাচন জঙ্গিপুর ও সামশেরগঞ্জেও". Bartaman (in Bengali). 30 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ "Bhabanipur Bypoll Highlights: Moderate Turnout Recorded in Bengal's Bhabanipur". NDTV. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ "Samserganj Election 2021: Assembly Elections News, Samserganj Constituency, Vidhan Sabha". News18. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ "Jangipur Election 2021: Assembly Elections News, Jangipur Constituency, Vidhan Sabha". News18. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ "Bengal polls: Over 57% voting in Bhabanipur, highest in Samserganj". Business Standard. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ↑ "West Bengal: 57% turnout at Bhowanipore bypoll, highest polling in Chetla". The Times of India. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ↑ "TMC bags all three seats as Mamata Banerjee wins big from Bhabanipur". The Tribune. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ "শোভনদেবের পিছিয়ে থাকা দুই ওয়ার্ডেই বাজিমাত মমতার". The Indian Express Bangla (in Bengali). 3 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ↑ "West Bengal Assembly by-elections: TMC announces candidates for four seats". Zee News. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ↑ "আচরণবিধি শুধু দু'টি বিধানসভা কেন্দ্রেই". Bartaman (in Bengali). 8 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission orders 27 companies of CAPF for West Bengal bypolls". India Today. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ↑ "Bengal to get 27 companies of central forces for Oct 30 bypolls". The Times of India. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ↑ "WB by-polls: EC orders to deploy additional 53 companies of CAPF". ANI. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ↑ "92 CAPF companies for Bengal bypolls". The Times of India. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ↑ "BSF now has uniform 50 km jurisdiction in border states for arrest, search, seizure". ANI. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
- ↑ "BSF now has uniform 50 km jurisdiction to arrest, search, seize in border states". The Economic Times. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
- ↑ "Changes in BSF Law to Bring One-Third Area in West Bengal Under Central Agency". The Wire. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
- ↑ "Silip Ghosh: বিএসএফের ডিআইজির সঙ্গে বৈঠক দিলীপের, উপনির্বাচনের আগে সাক্ষাৎ নিয়ে প্রশ্ন তৃণমূলের". Anandabazar (in Bengali). 27 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ↑ "দিনহাটা ভোটের মুখে বিএসএফ কর্তার কাছে দিলীপ-সুকান্ত | অভিসন্ধি নিয়ে সরব তৃণমূল". Bartaman (in Bengali). 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ↑ "ছবি তোলায় বর্তমান-এর চিত্রসাংবাদিকের ক্যামেরা কেড়ে ডিলিট করে দিলেন ডিএম". Bartaman (in Bengali). 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ↑ "'বিজেপির অভিযোগ ভিত্তিহীন' , মন্তব্য উদয়নের". MBharat (in Bengali). 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ↑ "WB By-Election: চার কেন্দ্রে উপনির্বাচন মোটের উপর শান্তিপূর্ণ, ভোটদানের হার সবথেকে কম খড়দহে". Anandabazar (in Bengali). 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ↑ কেন্দ্রীয় বাহিনীর অতি সক্রিয়তার অভিযোগে শোভনদেব চট্টোপাধ্যায়ের মন্তব্য (in Bengali). Kolkata Tv. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ মুখোমুখি শোভনদেব চট্টোপাধ্যায় (in Bengali). Kolkata Tv. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "খড়দহে প্রচারে ফিরহাদ, বিজেপি ছেড়ে তৃণমূলে যোগ ৩৫০ কর্মীর". Bartaman (in Bengali). 25 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ↑ আজকের জেলারর সারাদিন (in Bengali). Kolkata Tv. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Bypoll Live Updates – নিশীথের বিরুদ্ধে কমিশনে অভিযোগ তৃণমূলের, ভোটের শেষ বেলায় তন্ময়কে তোপ পার্থর". Asianet News Bangla (in Bengali). 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ↑ "WB Bypoll: উদয়ন গুহর প্রার্থীপদ প্রত্যাহারের দাবিতে নির্বাচন কমিশনে চিঠি বিজেপির". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ↑ "Over 71% voter turnout in bypolls to West Bengal, recorded till 5 pm". Business Standard. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ↑ "With more than 79% voter turnout, Gosaba records highest polling percentage". Millennium Post. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "নাম ঘোষণা হতেই প্রচারে তৃণমূলের প্রার্থী ব্রজকিশোর গোস্বামী ও সুব্রত মণ্ডল, শুরু দেওয়াল লিখন". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ↑ "Bhabanipur MLA Sovandeb Resigns Amid Indications That Mamata Will Return To Her Old Seat". News18. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ↑ "2 West Bengal BJP MPs resign as MLAs". Economic Times. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ↑ "Covid-19 positive TMC candidate Kajal Sinha dies at Kolkata hospital". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ↑ "3-Time Trinamool Congress MLA Jayanta Naskar Dies". NDTV. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ↑ Singh, Shiv Sahay (4 November 2021). "Bengal Minister Subrata Mukherjee dies at 75". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ↑ "Minister of State Subrata Saha dies at 69". The Indian Express. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ↑ "Sagardighi Bypoll Election Result 2023: Congress Leads From West Bengal Assembly Seat In Setback For Mamata Banerjee's TMC". Zee News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ↑ "BJP MLA from Dhupguri Bishnu Pada Ray dies, PM Modi, Mamata condole his death". The Indian Express. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ↑ "TMC MLA Idris Ali dies from illness". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ↑ "Trinamool MLA Tapas Roy quits party, resigns from assembly". The Hindu. 4 March 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ↑ "Krishna Kalyani resigns as Raiganj MLA following Lok Sabha nomination by TMC". Telegraph India. 28 March 2024. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ↑ "Bengal: Another turncoat MLA resigns, Biswajit Das to contest from Bangaon on TMC ticket". Jagran (in हिन्दी). 19 April 2024. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ↑ "West Bengal Cabinet Minister Sadhan Pande passes away at 71". The Indian Express. 20 February 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ↑ "HC rejects PIL demanding by-poll in Maniktala Assembly constituency". MillenniumPost. 18 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ↑ "Kalyan Chaubey withdraws poll petition". The Times of India. 30 April 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ↑ "Veteran TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed dies of cardiac arrest in West Bengal". The Times of India. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.