Ward 82 bypoll passes peacefully, Hakim confident of clean sweep
Kolkata: Ward number 82 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation at Chetla in South Kolkata witnessed a peaceful bypoll on Sunday, with Trinamool Congress candidate Firhad Hakim expressing full confidence over his comprehensive victory.
"I am confident of a clean sweep as I have always stood by the people of Chetla in times of their need, right from my childhood days. I am competing with myself today (Sunday) as I am seeking to break my own record by bagging more votes than what I got fifteen years back when I got elected from this ward as a councillor. The Opposition parties have zero organisational strength," Hakim said.
It may be mentioned that the by-election became necessary after Trinamool Congress councillor Pranab Biswas resigned from ward 82, citing bad health condition.
Earlier, Sovan Chatterjee had resigned from the post of Mayor. Hakim, who is the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, was nominated as the Mayor by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The KMC Act, 1980, earlier stated that only councillors can become Mayor. The amendment states that anyone can become the Mayor, but will have to win a by-election within six months.
Hakim on Sunday was found in a relaxed mood throughout the day, engaged in exchange of pleasantries with the people of the ward.
He had left no stones unturned and paid visit to every house in the ward during his election campaign. As a local boy, he is immensely popular in the area. During his earlier tenure as a councillor, massive development took place in Chetla and its neighbouring areas.
An estimated 64 percent of the 33,567-strong electorate cast their votes at the polling stations from 7 am to 3 pm, a senior officer of the State Election Commission said. Polling continued in one booth till 4 pm to allow the voters, who were still standing in queues, to exercise their franchise.
Jiban Sen of BJP, Animesh Bhattacharya of Congress
and Sisir Dutta of CPI are the three other candidates contesting the bypoll against Hakim. The result of the bypoll is scheduled to be announced on January 9.
