West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, 3 October, won the Bhabanipur bypoll after defeating BJP's Priyanka Tibrewal by over 58,000 votes. Shortly after her win, Banerjee thanked her voters, as well as the Election Commission of India. She also said:
"Around 46% of people here (in Bhabanipur) are non-Bengalis. They all have voted for me. People of West Bengal are watching Bhabanipur, which has inspired me."
Meanwhile BJP's Priyanka Tibrewal, who lost to Mamata, dubbed herself "man of the match" saying "because I contested the election in Mamata Banerjee's stronghold and got more than 25,000 votes".
The counting of votes was underway on Sunday for bypolls that were held in West Bengal's Bhabanipur constituency in South Kolkata, and Jangipur and Samserganj seats in Murshidabad district on Thursday, 30 September.
This bypoll was of consequence as Banerjee had to win in order to enter the state Assembly before the end of her first six months as Chief Minister (CM) in this term.
Banerjee had earlier lost the Nandigram seat to aide-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari in the Assembly elections, necessitating her participation in the bypolls on Thursday. TMC MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned to make way for Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
Apart from Bhabanipur, the bypolls were held in Jangipur and Samserganj following the death of two candidates.
Bhabanipur had witnessed a voter turnout of 53.32 percent until 5 pm
Samserganj saw a turnout of 78.60 percent and Jangipur 76.12 percent
The polling was carried out amid tight security and stringent COVID-19 measures, officials said
'I am Man of The Match' Says BJP Candidate
Even after Banerjee's win, her opponent from BJP Priyanka Tibrewal, was quoted by ANI as saying:
"I am 'Man of the Match' of this game because I contested the election in Mamata Banerjee's stronghold and got more than 25,000 votes. I will continue doing the hard work (sic)."
Banerjee Thanks Voters, ECI; Hits Out at Centre
Mamata Banerjee, according to ANI, thanked her voters, as well as the Election Commission of India.
Further, she hit out at the the Central Government, claiming that since the elections started in West Bengal, "Central government hatched conspiracies to remove us (from power)."
"I was hurt in my feet so that I don't contest the polls," CM Banerjee added.
Have Won, Registered My Victory in Every Ward: CM Mamata
Addressing the public, CM Mamata Banerjee, according to ANI, said:
"I have won the Bhabanipur Assembly bypolls with a margin of 58,832 votes and have registered the victory in every ward of the constituency."
Mamata Wins Bhabanipur Bypoll
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, 3 October, won the Bhabanipur bypoll after defeating BJP's Priyanka Tibrewal by over 58,000 votes.