CPI(M) fields candidate against Mamata in Bengal Bypoll

The Left Front on Wednesday announced that CPI(M) leader Srijib Biswas will be its candidate for the bypoll to Bhabanipur assembly constituency, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting as the Trinamool Congress nominee. Meanwhile, Advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, who was the legal adviser of Babul Supriyo, is learnt to be the candidate to challenge CM Mamata Banerjee for the high profile seat.

“Srijib Biswas will be the CPI(M) candidate from Bhabanipur constituency” in south Kolkata, the Left Front said in a statement. Tibrewal earlier contested the Kolkata Municipal Council elections as a BJP candidate in 2015 but lost to Trinamool Congress’s Swapan Sammadar. The by-poll will be held on September 30 along with the elections to two seats in Murshidabad district – Samserganj and Jangipur – where polling was countermanded during the eight-phase assembly elections conducted earlier this year due to death of candidates. The by-election to this constituency was necessitated owing to the resignation of sitting MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay who vacated the seat to allow West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to contest from there. The TMC supremo has to win this by-poll to retain her chief minister’s post. The notification for the election to the three seats was issued on September 6, beginning the nomination process. September 13 is the last date for filing nominations. Votes will be counted on October 3.