Mamata Banerjee casts vote at Mitra Institution in Bhowanipore

A wooden ramp, sources in the local administration said, had been set up for the wheelchair-bound chief minister

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee shows a victory sign at the booth on Monday.:  Pradip Sanyal

Pradip Sanyal   |  TT  |  Calcutta   |  27.04.21: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee cast her vote at Mitra Institution in Bhowanipore, Calcutta, on Monday. Mamata, a two-term legislator from Bhowanipore, arrived at the polling station around 3.52pm amid loud cheers from local people who had gathered at the booth, where she had always voted.

A wooden ramp, sources in the local administration said, had been set up for the wheelchair-bound chief minister.

Mamata didn’t speak to journalists waiting at the entrance, but paused twice — once before entering the booth and again while coming out of it — to pose for photos.

A wooden ramp has been set up for the wheelchair-bound chief minister.:Pradip Sanyal

She displayed the victory sign on both the occasions, which sources close to her said was her confidence that she would return as the chief minister for the third time in a row.

This time, Mamata’s close aide and long-time colleague Sovandeb Chatterjee has been fielded from Bhowanipore as she nominated herself as the Trinamul candidate from Nandigram to take on turncoat Suvendu Adhikari.

The BJP has fielded another Trinamul turncoat and actor Rudranil Ghosh against Chatterjee.

Mamata Banerjee displays victory sign at the booth.: Pradip Sanyal

Former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, a voter of the Ballygunge segment, didn’t cast his vote on Monday owing to health complications.

Bhattacharjee has been suffering from respiratory problems for the past few years and couldn't exercise his franchise during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls either.

Bhattacharjee’s wife Mira and daughter Suchetana cast their votes at the Pathabhavan School.

“His health condition isn't suitable for him to cast his vote. Nothing can be done in that case,” Mira told journalists.