Mamata to kick off Bhabanipur byelection campaign today

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is set to kick off her poll campaign for Bhabanipur assembly constituency from Wednesday from Chetla area in South Kolkata, which is part of the constituency.

Having lost the April-May assembly election from Nandigram to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, she needs to get elected by November to be able to retain the CM’s post. Article 164(4) of the Constitution requires that a minister must get elected to the state legislature within six months of assuming the post, failing which she or he shall cease to be a minister.

Several ministers and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MLAs have been given charge of different wards for the campaign to ensure the party leader wins and retains her position as chief minister, said people aware of the matter.


State transport minister Firhad Hakim, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee, Banerjee’s brother Kartick Banerjee and state industry minister Partha Chatterjee are among those who have been given charge of several wards of the constituency.

“Mamata Banerjee will also organise workers' conventions and address them,” said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.