Kolkata: The Assembly bypolls in Pipili in Odisha and in Bhabanipur constituency in neighbouring West Bengal reported low voter turnout in the first two hours since voting began at 7 am on Thursday.
According to the Election Commission, only 7.8 per cent of the voters in Pipili had cast their votes in the bypolls till 9 am.
Also Read: Pipili Bypoll: Voter Turnout 7.8 Per Cent By 9 AM
Similarly, the Bhabanipur constituency recorded a voter turnout of just 7.57 per cent during the first two hours of polling.
According to reports, voting began in Bhabanipur and the two other Assembly seats of Jangipur and Samserganj constituencies in Bengal amid tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
The Bhabanipur bypoll is crucial given that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting the seat to retain her chair.
Also Read: Will Mamata Banerjee Continue As Bengal CM? Court Clears A Hurdle
The Trinamool Congress is pitted against BJP’s Priyanka Tibrewal and the CPM’s Srijib Biswas.
While it’s a do or die situation for Mamata, the BJP is eyeing a repeat of Nandigram where the Trinamool chief lost to Suvendu Adhikari in the Assembly polls held earlier this year.
