Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give instructions to Election Commission for bypolls in West Bengal can be held within seven days.

Speaking to the media persons on Wednesday in Kolkata she said that when PM gives instructions, EC will act. She lashed out at the Centre over the row involving ex-Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, who was served a new notice on Monday. She served one of her own; saying in 2024 BJP may not be in power. She questioned the EC Why delay? Bengal polls were held when Covid positivity rate was 30%. Now it is down to three percent or less, she said.

In the 2021 elections, she lost from Nandigram against the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. She will contest in bypoll from Bhabhinpur and must win within six months to stay Chief Minister. This week he was served a new notice warning of major penalty proceedings. The officer can act on the central notice at his convenience. State will give full support, she said, accusing the centre of victimizing a bereaved officer.

Mamatha Banerjee criticized that they are not following the law, only flexing muscle, country is not the BJP’s alone, and most states are run by opposition parties.