Relief for Mamata; HC dismisses plea against Bhabanipur bypoll

KOLKATA: The Kolkata High Court has ruled that the Bhabanipur by-election, in which Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting, cannot be cancelled. The court rejected the petition seeking annulment of the election. Mamata Banerjee had to contest the bypolls in Bhabanipur to continue as the chief minister following her defeat in Nandigram in the Bengal Assembly elections held earlier this year. Mamata Banerjee lost to former colleague and current BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari by 1736 votes.

The Trinamool Congress won 213 out of 294 seats in Bengal with a two thirds majority in the state elections. The BJP, which won only three seats in 2016, won 77 seats in a strong fight. Despite the party's victory, her defeat was a major blow to Mamata. Trinamool leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay won the election from Bhabanipur. He resigned as MLA for Mamata. Mamata Banerjee contested and won from Bhabanipur in 2011 and 2016. The by-poll in Bhavanipur will be held on Thursday. The results will be declared on October 3.