No stay on Bhabanipur by election; Calcutta HC to hear ‘poll expenses’ matter on November 17 – Times Now

Kolkata: In a huge relief for Mamata Banerjee, the Calcutta High Court did not put a stay on the upcoming Bhabaniur bypoll which is scheduled to be held on September 30.

The high court gave its nod for the September 30 by-election while hearing a petition that had claimed that the Election Commission had noted that it had decided to conduct the Bhabanipur by-poll “considering the constitutional exigency and special request from state of West Bengal”.

It may be noted that court had also expressed objections to West Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi’s letter to the poll panel which stated that there would be a ‘constitutional crisis’ in the state if the elections in Bhabanipur were not held immediately. 

Mentioning the chief secretary’s letter, the EC had informed the court why it decided to hold the polls in Bhabanipur.

The poll panel’s response came after earlier the Calcutta HC had asked it to file a plea regarding the contents of the notification issued by it in view of the arguments raised by the petitioner. The court had asked the EC to explain why did the commission think that if by-election is not held in Bhabanipur, it would lead to a constitutional crisis.

“Some people contest elections and win and then they resign for various reasons. Now someone is resigning to give someone a chance to win from the seat again. Who will bear the cost of this election? Why should the tax-payers’ money be spent for this election,” the bench asked.