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Bhabanipur Bypoll: Mamata Banerjee’s crucial day was a mix of violence, allegations, low voter turnout

Mamata Banerjee

Over three lakh voters of Bhabanipur, a south Kolkata legislative constituency, casted their votes today, to seal the fate of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who is looking to enter the state Assembly before the end of her six-month period of Chief Ministership-without-being-an-MLA.

The constituency, which has twice elected Mamata and is considered her home, has pitted the Trinamool Congress supremo against two young faces — BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal and the CPM’s Srijib Biswas.

The Thursday bypoll saw a relatively low voter turnout amidst isolated disturbances. At the same time, byelections to two other seats in the State and to the Pipili Assembly seat in Odisha saw a higher turnout.

Till 5 p.m., about 53.32% voters had exercised their franchise in Bhabanipur, compared to 76.12% in Jangipur and 78.60% at Samserganj, where, along with Pipili, elections were adjourned due to the death of candidates during the Assembly polls in April.

Banerjee, who is contesting the bypoll from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency to retain her chair, cast her vote at Mitra Institution School around 3 pm.

The results of the four elections will be out on October 3. The Bhabanipur bypoll is crucial, as Banerjee had lost the election from Nandigram in May.

BJP candidate from Bhabanipur Priyanka Tibrewal raised allegations of electoral malpractices at some of the polling booths. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer denied the allegations, saying no irregularities took place.

The BJP also raised allegations against Ministers Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee, claiming that they were moving around polling booths and trying to influence voters. Both denied the allegations, saying they were merely interacting with party supporters at different party offices and did not try to influence voters.

A vehicle of BJP leader Kalyan Chaubey was attacked and damaged at Bhabanipur. According to the police, there was no political connection with the incident and the attack was due to an altercation with a person on a motorbike.

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BJP government wants to establish surveillance state; accused Mamata Banerjee

mamata Banerjee

On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP-led Government of trying to establish a “surveillance state”, latching on to the Pegasus snooping row.

The Trinamool congress supremo also asked the Supreme Court to take cognizance of snooping scandal that purportedly targeted politicians, activists, journalists and even judges using the Pegasus spyware. She also asked opposition parties to come together to defeat the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Also See: Cyber warfare from China-part-II

Addressing the Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata online, she said, “The BJP wants to convert a democratic country into a surveillance state rather than a welfare state.”

Every year on July 21, the TMC observes Martyrs’ Day to commemorate the killing of 13 people in police firing on a rally of Youth Congress workers against the then Left Front government in 1993 when Mamata Banerjee was in the Congress.

The West Bengal CM and TMC chief also accused the Centre of spending the money collected through tax on fuel & other commodities for spying using a “dangerous software” instead of funding welfare schemes.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi, Prashant Kishor & Ashok Lavassa among those targeted for NSO-Pegasus surveillance which has drawn attention of UN

Mamata Banerjee told the rally, “I know my phone is being tapped. All Opposition leaders know that our phones are being tapped. I cannot speak to NCP leader Sharad Pawarji or other Opposition leaders or Chief Ministers because we are being snooped and spied on by the Centre. But snooping on us would not save them in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.”

West Bengal CM slammed the BJP-led NDA government for its “monumental failure” in handling the second wave of the Covid19-crisis. The TMC supremo also termed the saffron party a “highly loaded virus party” which needs to be defeated at any cost.

Also Read: Suvendu Adhikari blamed the overconfidence of Bengal BJP leaders for the election defeat

Mamata Banerjee thanked leaders of the Congress, NCP, SP, Shiv Sena and several other parties for joining her rally virtually from New Delhi. She said that all those opposed to the BJP and its “authoritarian regime” should defeat it.

The Bengal leader, who is being looked as an integral part of an opposition, said, “The BJP has taken the country to darkness, we all have to come forward to take it to new light.”

Renewing the battle cry she made during the state Assembly elections, Ms Banerjee declared, “Khela Hobe” (will play). The West Bengal CM further added that the fight will continue till BJP is ousted from power.

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Suvendu Adhikari blamed the overconfidence of Bengal BJP leaders for the election defeat

Suvendu Adhikari & Mamata Banerjee

On Sunday, the leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly & BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the BJP lost because of several leaders’ overconfidence that the party would get over 170 seats.

There was a party meeting held in Chandipur area of Purba Medinipur district. In that meeting, Mr Adhikari said that this smugness and overconfidence led to lack of understanding of the emerging ground situation.

The TMC turncoat said, “As we did well in the first two poll phases in these parts of assembly segments, many of our leaders became smug and overconfident. They started believing that the BJP will secure 170-180 seats in the elections, but they did not do the groundwork. This cost us dearly.”

He said that continuing work at the ground level was equally important as setting up targets, which was realistic but needed hard work.

Also Read: Major setback to BJP in north Bengal: Ganga Prasad with 7 other leaders switched to TMC

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh reacted to Mr Adhikari’s claims. He said, “Suvendu has conveniently forgotten the slew of social welfare projects and a spree of development by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the mandate against BJP heavyweights’ sustained campaign against the CM and TMC.”

Mr Ghosh is the state general secretary of Trinamool congress. He said, “The BJP was living in a fool’s paradise as many of their leaders predicted that the saffron camp will cross 200 seats. Why he is finding fault with others? Did not Suvendu also boast repeatedly that his party will get 180 seats at least? Actually, they do not know the pulse of Bengal, Trinamool does.”

Also Read: Evolution of Anti defection laws in India- an overview

Few days back Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been informed that her government was ready for bypolls to seven Assembly constituencies and two Rajya Sabha seats.

A six-member delegation of TMC MPs met ECI in Delhi, demanding that bypolls be held at the earliest on account of fewer Covid-19 cases. The comments came on a day after this meeting.

Mamata Banerjee told media at the state secretariat, “ECI had asked us if we could conduct by-elections to the Rajya Sabha. We told them that we were ready for Rajya Sabha elections and the seven Assembly seats.” She further said that the Covid-19 situation in West Bengal was under control and elections could be held.

Also Read: TMC vs BJP-Giving too much attention on criticizing a non-existential opponent can cause problem

In order to continue as the Chief Minister, the TMC supremo needs to get elected as an MLA by November 5. Ms Banerjee is likely to contest from Bhabanipur seat which has been left vacant by her party leader and state minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay.

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Major setback to BJP in north Bengal: Ganga Prasad with 7 other leaders switched to TMC

tmc

In north Bengal, BJP faced a major setback. On Monday, Alipurduar district BJP president Ganga Prasad Sharma joined the Trinamool Congress in Kolkata in the presence of party leaders-Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Mukul Roy.

GP Sharma had said that he was changing parties as working for the people was becoming increasingly difficult for him in his current circumstances. In a press meet, Mukul Roy commented that BJP’s rise in West Bengal was from north Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections 2019, and its downfall will also begin from north Bengal. Roy noted that this is just a glimpse of what lies ahead for the BJP. 

Also Read: Tikait-Mamata meeting-Farmer-leaders met Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata

GP Sharma was accompanied by 7 other leaders who switched from BJP to TMC.

He said, “I did everything to ensure that the BJP wins the polls, and the party did bag five seats. But some of us are feeling suffocated in the party now, which is expanding in size without establishing links with grassroots workers.”

He further added, “I had to work hard to consolidate the party’s base in the district. I can no longer stay in a party where the district president is not given importance. I have left the BJP.”

He also said that the recent demand by “our local MP for a union territory status for north Bengal” has further pushed him to take the decision. Sharma said that a few other members of the party will also follow in his footsteps.

In response to GP Sharma’s comments, BJP MLA and opposition leader in Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, “Our organisation is strong in north Bengal. Ganga Prasad’s exit hardly matters.” He added, “We will create another Ganga Prasad. Individuals do not matter, BJP matters.”

In December last year, Adhikari had jumped boat into BJP after accusing TMC of lacking discipline. He had then vowed to bring the BJP to power in the state, which did not materialize.

Also Read: TMC vs BJP-Giving too much attention on criticizing a non-existential opponent can cause problem

In the West Bengal election, the contest between TMC-supremo Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari was a personal, high-stakes and neck to neck fight.

Till the fourth round of vote counting, Banerjee was trailing behind her one-time aide Adhikari in Nandigram in East Midnapore district by a margin of 3,710 votes.

But, in the later rounds of vote counting, Mamata Banerjee had steadily picked up the pace. Adhikari and Banerjee were alternately leading each other by margins ranging from 6 to thousands.

Mamata won the West Bengal assembly election, but lost the seat of Nandigram by 1956 votes to Suvendu Adhikari.

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Mamata Banerjee filed a plea in Calcutta High Court against Adhikari’s Nandigram-win

Mamata vs Suvendu

On June 17, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee moved a plea before the Calcutta High Court. In the plea, she challenged the election victory of rival-BJP’s leader Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram.

The case would be taken up by the High Court for hearing on June 18. Nearly a month-and-a-half after the declaration of assembly poll results, the legal battle has erupted over the election win of Adhikari. Nandigram assembly constituency had witnessed a personal, a high stakes & high-voltage electoral clash between Mamata Banerjee and her former protégé Adhikari. The latter had jumped ship to BJP in December last year, in hope of getting ahead of Mamata Banerjee in the state polity. But his calculus fell short to predict the complete picture.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee wins Bengal election but loses Nandigram to Suvendu Adhikari

Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee registered a sweeping win in the assembly polls. But, Adhikari won by a narrow-margin against the chief minister at Nandigram- the centre of West Bengal election 2021.

Suvendu Adhikari won the contest by a slim margin of 1,956 votes, as per the final result declared by the Election Commission of India. Final declaration of result was preceded by a confusion which erupted during the vote counting.

A number of reports had earlier declared Mamata Banerjee as the winner. Sometime later, the polling body issued a clarification, claiming that Adhikari secured more number of votes, which was questioned.

A per the final tally, Adhikari bagged 1,10,764 votes, whereas, Banerjee secured 1,08,808 votes. Trinamool had subsequently levelled allegations of irregularities in the counting.

Also See: Shadow of Narada-sting case over West Bengal

Sources on the condition of anonymity suggested that this case is linked to the case of missing EVMs, which BJP and the poll body are allegedly trying to brush under the carpet. In June 2017, the poll body had told the Bombay High Court that 20 lakh EVMs that the manufacturers affirmed to have delivered are ‘missing’ from the possession of the Election Commission. However, the poll body has refuted this report which visibly has placed it in discomfort.

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Tikait-Mamata meeting-Farmer-leaders met Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata

Today, Farmer-leaders led by Rakesh Tikait of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at Nabanna, Kolkata. Today’s meeting took place at the Secretariat between Rakesh Tikait and Mamata Banerjee.

The issue discussed in the meeting was about the three controversial central farm-laws and how to increase the farmers’ agricultural output. The farmer-leaders met to seek her support for the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the new agriculture laws and for a Minimum Support Price for farm produce.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

Yudhvir Singh, general secretary of the BKU stated, “We want to congratulate Mamata Banerjee for her electoral victory and to elicit her support for the move to give farmers a fair MSP for their crops.”

Mr Singh said that he also wants to impress upon Ms Banerjee to come up with MSP for fruits, vegetables and milk products in West Bengal. He added that “this will serve as a model” elsewhere. Today’s Tikait-Mamata meeting points to the increasing significance of Mamata Banerjee in national political scenario after declaration of state election result on May 2.

Also Read: West Bengal is a tough battlefield for BJP-an overview from historical, cultural & economic standpoints

Absence of a specified MSP and glut in produce often leads to farmers suffering from extremely low prices. That results in huge losses, often leading to farmer suicides in many parts of the country.

Rakesh Tikait and other farmer-leaders have been leading the farmers’ movement on Delhi’s borders for nearly seven months against three laws passed by the Parliament. The farmers feel that the central farm-laws will commercialise agriculture without adequate protection to small farmers from exploitation by large retail chains and industry.

Also Read: Possibility of National front after SAD links with Shiv Sena and other parties from across India over Farmers’ protests

In the meeting, Rakesh Tikait requested CM Mamata Banarjee to write to the Centre. Apart from Yudhvir Singh and other prominent farmer-leaders, Yashwant Sinha was also present in the meeting.

Rakesh Tikait said that Mamata Banarjee has defeated BJP and could write to the Centre & help keep the farmers’ movement going on. She had earlier extended her support for the farmers. Farmer-leaders are expecting the same support once again to revive the movement. Today’s meeting at Nabanna was expected to deliberate the future of the Farm-laws. CM Banerjee’s support for the agitation which has drawn on the farmer community in rural north India, and from other states like TN, Kerala, Maharashtra, MP, & Rajasthan is being viewed as a potential booster which has been flagging in recent weeks, mainly due to second wave.

At a certain level, this meeting also signifies the growing importance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the national politics, especially after her resounding victory in the state assembly election.

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Mamata Banerjee hits back at centre in a press briefing- You cannot digest your defeat

After the row over the review meeting with PM Modi over discussion on the impacts of cyclone Yaas, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the centre for what she described as showing one-sided narrative which alleged that she made PM wait for half an hour for the meeting.

On the argument of one-sided news Mamata Banerjee stated, “The Union government targeted me yesterday by giving out selective news. News that was one-sided and there was no way of finding out what the whole story is. So, I decided to hold this press briefing to let you all know what happened overall.”

Also Read: What led to BJP’s defeat-Important highlights at the conclusion of the West Bengal election

Chiding the centre, West Bengal CM said that she had to change plans due to the sudden visit of PM to the cyclone-hit areas. On this, she said, “I had made plans to visit cyclone-hit areas. I had to travel to Sagar and Digha to see the damage caused by Cyclone Yaas. All my plans were made and ready, then suddenly we get a call that Prime Minister wants to visit Bengal to assess the situation after the cyclone. So, we made plans accordingly.”

Mamata Banerjee also alleged that she was made to wait and was not informed that the meeting had already begun.

On this she said, “We were made to wait for 20 minutes and were told that the PM’s helicopter will land there, so we waited patiently. By the time were reached the place where the PM-Chief Minister meeting was to be held, we found out that the PM had already arrived there some time ago and that there was a meeting going on. We were asked to wait outside, told that there will be no entry at the moment because a meeting is going on. We waited patiently for a while. Then, when we asked again, we were told that no one can enter for the next one hour.”

Ms Banerjee also alleged and pointed out that the meeting was going on against the brief, where some MLAs of opposition party in state legislature were present.

On this, CM Banerjee went on to add, “Then someone told us that the meeting has moved to a conference hall, so the Chief Secretary and I decided to go there. When we reached there, we saw the PM was in a meeting with the governor, central leaders and even some MLAs of the opposition party. This was clearly against the brief. It was supposed to be only a PM-Chief Minister meeting. So we decided to submit our report to the PM and then with the Prime Minister’s permission we went to Digha.”

Also Read: TMC vs BJP-Giving too much attention on criticizing a non-existential opponent can cause problem

Mamata Banerjee further stated that she went to Digha after taking permission from PM. On the pictures taken of vacant seats, she stated in a caustic remark, “There were some vacant seats, but there was no need to sit as we were leaving for Digha. Next we see that a photo has been given to the press of vacant seats. That is not done. Every time the central government targets me like this.”

She castigated the centre of disturbing the functioning of the government and said, “When the PM reviewed in Gujarat, Odisha, other states, opposition party members were not present. But in Bengal, opposition leaders were present. Every time you come here, you do something to disturb the functioning of our government.”

In a rather smart statement which addressed the chief secretaries across the nations, she put forth a rhetoric that the home minister cannot recall the chief secretary (Alapan Bandopadhyay) just like that. In this regard, she added, “By doing this you are insulting all Chief Secretaries across the nation – in all states.” Ms Banerjee also stated that since the BJP lost the state assembly election, and is not able to digest the defeat, the centre (led by BJP) is playing such political games.

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Mamata Banerjee skips review meeting with PM; hands over preliminary damage reports

On Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kalaikunda, and submitted a preliminary report on damages caused by Cyclone Yaas. CM Banerjee skipped the review meeting with PM. On this, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar criticized Ms.Banerjee for skipping review meet with Modi. Dhankar stated, “It would have served interests of state and its people for CM and officials to attend Review Meet by PM. Confrontational stance ill serves interests of State or democracy.”

PM Modi announced a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for immediate relief activities. Out of the total mount, Rs 500 crore would be immediately disbursed to Odisha. Another Rs 500 crore was announced for West Bengal and Jharkhand. It will be released on the basis of the damage.

Also Read: Differences & similarities between cyclones formed over Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea

Officials said that CM Banerjee conducted an aerial survey of cyclone-hit areas in North 24 Parganas district. They further said that alongwith Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, CM Banerjee took stock of the situation in Hingalganj, Hasnabad, Sandeshkhali, Pinakha and other areas of the district. CM Banerjee said, “I have seen that most of the areas have been inundated. Houses and large tracts of agricultural fields are under water. A field survey will also be conducted.”

There was a review meeting held by PM Modi with the CM of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneshwar. It was about discussing the impacts of the

cyclone.Also Read: Yaas makes landfall with windspeed at around 140 kmph; seawater enters several villages in Odisha

Odisha’s government demanded long-term solutions to mitigate problems caused by the repeated cyclones during the meeting. It also asked for provisions of disaster-resilient power systems. Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said that the state government sought no immediate funds to tackle the expenditure incurred in disaster management.

On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee sought a Rs 20,000-crore package for redevelopment of the worst-affected areas. She claimed that the state has incurred a loss of Rs 20,000 crore due to the cyclone. Following an administrative meeting held in the tourist town of Digha, CM Banerjee stated, “We have sought a package of Rs 10,000 crore each for the redevelopment of Digha and the Sunderbans.  It could well be that we might not get anything.”

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Central forces refuse to cooperate in investigation on Sitalkuchi violence

Central forces

Four constables and one inspector of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and a deputy commandant of the force were issued a notice in connection with the April 10 firing incident in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police. They were served notice under Section 160 of the CrPC and were asked to appear at the CID headquarters on Tuesday. None of the six officials of the central forces turned up for the enquiry. The investigating officials have decided to send further notices to the central forces.

Last week, sleuths of the West Bengal CID, which is probing the deaths of five persons in firing by the CISF personnel during fourth phase of assembly election, questioned the investigating officer of the Mathabhanga police station. SP of CoochBehar, Debasish Dhar was suspended after the incident.

An SIT (Special investigating team) was formed under DIG CID Kalyan Mukhopadhyay to carry out the investigation in the case.

BJP, which has supported the firings, has meanwhile called the investigation politically motivated. BJP general secretary, Kailash Vijayvargiya said, “The CID’s action is politically motivated. They have no right to summon CISF personnel.” Turncoat party leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the CID is doing it on the directions of Mamata Banerjee.

Also Read: Sitalkuchi violence-Where it all started- beasts in uniforms attacked Minal Haque

The actual incident which triggered the violence involved a teenage kid, who was assaulted by the central forces, allegedly without any provocation. Minal Haque, a class VIII student was playing at a distance of 800 metres from the polling booth number 126 on the day of the fourth-phase polling in Coochbehar.

A team of central forces, known as QRT(quick reaction team) arrived in a vehicle at the playground and started interrogating the kid. After being unable to comprehend what the kid was saying in his response, one of the men in the security forces hit the kid with the baton of his rifle in his spine and waist.

As the kid fell down, chaos spread in the area. Father of Minal, Majid Mian rushed to get the kid to hospital, where doctors told him to get ultrasonography and CT scan done.

This incident led the villagers to protest around the polling booth which led to open-firing which killed four people.

Also Read: Sitakulchi firing-Facts on the ground do not add up with the claims by the central forces

In a statement given a day after taking oath, Mamata Banerjee has assured that her government will provide jobs of home guard to one family member each of all five persons killed in Sitalkuchi.

The incident of Sitalkuchi violence had drawn protests and criticism from the ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC), which held demonstrations across the state to protest the firing incident. Several TMC activists had worn black badges and demanded the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah.

However, Election commission of India which has received a lot of flak from judiciary, had said that that the security forces had to open fire in self-defence.  BJP leaders like Dilip Ghosh had referred to the firing incident multiple times to give veiled threats which allude to killing of minority people during the poll campaign.

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Swearing in ceremony took place for 43 leaders in the West Bengal cabinet

West-Bengal-cabinet-swearing-Mamta-Banerjees-new-cabinet-43-ministers

A diverse cabinet of 43 leaders of Trinamool Congress took oath at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister & party supremo Mamata Banerjee. The swearing & oath-taking of the 43 leaders took place in a simple ceremony amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic.

Also Read: What led to BJP’s defeat-Important highlights at the conclusion of the West Bengal election

Visuals from the event indicate that while most of the lawmakers appeared in person, some were administered the oath via video call. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had been sworn in for a third term last week was also in attendance.

Also Read: TMC vs BJP-Giving too much attention on criticizing a non-existential opponent can cause problem

The oath taking ceremony took place hours after the Governor had sanctioned the prosecution of Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee, Madan Mitra and Sovan Chatterjee in conjunction with the posts they had held at the time of the purported Narada sting tapes. Former Kolkata Mayor, Hakim, and fellow MLA Subrata Mukherjee incidentally were among the ministers sworn in on Monday morning.

Also Read: Fake news being circulated regarding the post-poll violence in West Bengal

Hakim said after the oath-taking ceremony, “I believe in the judiciary and I am sure we will get a clean chit. It is good that it is going to the court now.”

The ruling party in the state, Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections cementing a third-term. BJP garnered 77 seats in the 294-seat state Assembly.

Elections for two seats in Murshidabad were postponed due to the demise of candidates due to Covid-19.