Ready For By-Polls Before Durga Puja In October, Bengal Tells Election Body

The seven seats are lying vacant either due to the deaths of candidates during the eight-phase Assembly election held earlier this year or the resignation of MLAs.

The pending by-elections in seven Assembly constituencies of West Bengal could be held before Durga Puja in October and the state administration is fully prepared to conduct it, officials of the state Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office informed the poll body during a virtual meeting on Wednesday, sources said. The seven seats are lying vacant either due to the deaths of candidates during the eight-phase Assembly election held earlier this year or the resignation of MLAs. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is keen on the by-polls as party chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who lost the election from Nandigram, must be elected within November to be able to retain her post as the chief minister. For this, by-polls must be conducted by November 5. "The festive season will continue from October 10 to October 24 and it is impossible to conduct the election at that time. So, the state has asked the Election Commission (EC) to conduct polls before the festive season begins.