Mamata moves high court, challenging Suvendu's win in Nandigram

Trinamul chief lost the polls by 1,956 votes; hearing on Friday, 11am

Mamata Banerjee.: File picture

TT Bureau   |   Calcutta   |  17.06.21: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court against BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, challenging the result of the Nandigram Assembly constituency where she lost to him by a margin of mere 1,956 votes.

The case will come up for hearing before the single bench of Justice Kausik Chanda on Friday morning.

Nandigram was one of the most closely contested seats in this May’s Assembly election, with an acrimonious campaign. Despite the loss in Nandigram, the Trinamul, led by Mamata, had scored an emphatic win, with the BJP remaining the only Opposition in Bengal's electoral space.

Soon after the results were declared Mamata had made it clear that she suspected foul play in the counting process in Nandigram and would move court.

The one reason behind the rise of Adhikari in the BJP is that he has defeated Mamata.

Though Mamata took oath as chief minister, she would have to seek re-election within six months. So far, there is no indication of the Election Commission of India announcing by-polls in the state. 

Trinamul leaders are worried that the central poll panel might not hold the elections now citing the Covid pandemic. The EC had drawn flak for holding a prolonged eight-phase elections while Covid raged in the state.

Mamata’s colleague in the cabinet, Manas Bhunia, had succeeded in overturning an election result 21 years ago. During the Bengal Assembly polls of 1996, Bhunia had lost by a mere 825 votes to Makhanlal Bangal of the Biplabi Bangla Congress, a Left Front constituent.

Bhunia had moved  high court and four years later was declared winner.