West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting during her campaign for the Bhawanipore Assembly by-election, in Kolkata.
By-polls will be held in Bhabnipur seat, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting, and two other constituencies on Thursday (today) amid tight security and rain handling measures, officials said.
Besides Jangipur and Samserganj seats in Murshidabad district, bypolls will be held in Bhabnipur in south Kolkata.
A total of 72 companies of central forces have been deployed in the three constituencies, out of which 35 were sent to Bhabnipur alone. Three personnel will be stationed at each of the 287 polling stations in Bhabnipur’s 97 polling stations, an election official said.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the Irrigation Department to remain alert due to inclement weather and all polling stations have been directed to keep pumps ready to pump out the flood water.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have been imposed within 200 meters of polling stations.
A police official said the Kolkata Police, which will be in charge of security outside booths in Bhabnipur, has already set up dharnas at 38 places in the constituency.
There will be heavy deployment of forces including rapid response teams in Bhabnipur. Security has also been beefed up in Jangipur and Samserganj seats.
The counting of votes held on Thursday will take place on October 3. Banerjee will fight Priyanka Tibrewal of BJP and Shrijib Biswas of CPI(M) in Bhabnipur.
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