Uncertainty over fate of minister who gave up Bhabanipur for Didi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 5

The announcement by the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday regarding bypoll for the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency on September 30 may have given relief to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, but uncertainty prevails over the fate of Agriculture Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay.

Chattopadhyay fought from Bhabanipur and won handsomely. He later resigned from the seat to enable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who lost to Suvendu Adhikari at Nandigram, to contest from the seat, her old haunt. Chattopadhyay resigned from the Assembly on May 21.

Under Article 164(4) of the Constitution, a minister who is not a member of the legislature of the state for a period of six consecutive months shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a minister.

Chattopadhyay left his old constituency, Rashbehari, at Mamata Banerjee’s instance to contest from Bhabanipur. Now, Rashbehari has another TMC MLA. Chattopadhyay needs to become an MLA by November 21 in order to remain a minister.

Polls are also going to be held on September 30 for the Jangipur and Samserganj Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, but Chattopadhyay will not be able to contest from either of the two constituencies.