CPM fields Jadavpur University Professor Nandini Mukhopadhaya against Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: The CPM has fielded Nandini Mukhopadhaya, a Jadavpur University professor, against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Bhowanipore Assembly by-elections which will take place on September 25. Mukhopadhaya is a professor of computer science and engineering at the university.

The party has also fielded Subid Ali Gazi in the Basirhat (North) Assembly constituency where a by-election will take place on the same day. The seat was won by Mustafa Ben Kashem of the CPM during the May Assembly elections, but became vacant following the death of Kashem.

Bhowanipore Assembly seat became vacant after the state's PWD minister and Trinamool Congress MLA from the constituency, Subrata Bakshi, had resigned recently to enable Mamata Banerjee to contest from the constituency and become a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Banerjee is not a member of the Legislative Assembly. She is still a member of Parliament from the Kolkata (South) seat. As per rules, anyone can become the chief minister without winning an Assembly seat. But, he or she will have to be a member of the House within six months of becoming the chief minister. Mamata had taken oath as the chief minister on May 20 this year and will have to be a member of the House by November 19 this year.

Bakshi, one of Mamata's trusted leaders, had stepped down recently from the WBLA to vacate the Bhowanipore seat for Mamata to contest and win.