West Bengal ByPolls: Polling underway in Bhabanipur, Samserganj and Jangipur

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Image: Voter shows his inked-finger after casting his vote at the Polling Station No 59A St Pauls Boarding and Day School under 159 Bhabanipur assembly constituency of Kolkata South District. Photo: ECI 

Polling got underway on Thursday in West Bengal's Bhabanipur, Samserganj and Jangipur amid tight security.

The special focus is on South Kolkata's Bhabanipur constituency where Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is contesting against Priyanka Tibrewal of the Bharatiya Janata Party. This is a contest that Mamata has to win to remain as West Bengal chief minister.

The polling process began in the three assembly segments at 7am amid tight security. According to Election Commission data, a total of 6,97,164 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise.

Image: Covid conscious voters have maintained social distancing at the Polling booth in early morning under 58 Jangipur assembly constituency of  Murshidabad district. Photo: ECI 

The Election Commission has deployed 72 companies of central forces in the three constituencies to ensure free and fair polling. Out of these 72 companies, 35 have been deployed in Bhabanipur alone. Section 144 CrPC has been imposed within 200 metres of the polling centres.

Yet, within the first hour itself, the BJP has claimed a booth capturing attempt by the TMC in Bhabanipur. 

Priyanka Tibrewal alleged TMC MLA Madan Mitra had 'purposely' shut voting machines at Ward Number 72 in Bhabanipur constituency. The claim was denied by the TMC.

Image: Electors' queue in the early morning at Polling Station under 56-Samserganj assembly constituency of Murshidabad district. Photo: ECI 

Speaking to the media while doing the rounds of the constituency, Tibrewal said that Mamata would be under pressure as the fate of her position as chief minister hangs in the balance.

Mamata had been forced to contest from Bhabanipur after she lost to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari at the Nandigram constituency during the assembly elections. But with the TMC sweeping the elections, she became the chief minister. 

However, rules mandate that the chief minister must enter the assembly as an elected representative within six months of assuming the post.

Image: Voter showcasing her inked-finger after casting her vote at the polling station of Suti 1 block under 58 Jangipur assembly constituency of Murshidabad district. Photo: ECI

To enable Mamata to enter the assembly as an MLA, state agriculture minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay vacated his Bhabanipur seat.

To recall, Bhabanipur is Mamata's home turf, having won from here in 2011 and 2016.

Elections had to be countermanded in Jangipur and Samserganj in Murshidabad district following the death of two candidates.

The counting of votes will be undertaken on October 3.