Premium

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee reaches Calcutta HC, files counter affidavit to petition challenging his 2024 poll victory

Last year, the BJP’s Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha poll candidate Abhijit Das, who lost to Abhishek Banerjee by over 7 lakh votes, filed an election petition in the Calcutta HC alleging rigging in the constituency.

Abhishek Banerjee with other lawyers who are representing TMC

Several lawyers who represent the TMC greeted Abhishek Banerjee and sought selfies with the MP before he left the premises. (Source: Express Photo)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee reached the Calcutta High Court on Monday to sign some documents before submitting a counter affidavit against an election petition filed in connection with his massive poll victory from Diamond Harbour constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

He arrived at the court at around 11 am and remained there for about 15 minutes. Several lawyers who represent the TMC greeted him and sought selfies with the MP before he left the premises.

In July last year, the BJP’s Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha poll candidate Abhijit Das, who lost to TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee by more than 7 lakh votes, filed an election petition in the Calcutta High Court alleging large-scale rigging in the constituency.

Banerjee had won in Diamond Harbour by a margin of around 7,11,000 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He got 10,48,230 votes, while his nearest rival Das secured only 3,37,300 votes.

In April this year, the high court heard the case and issued directions for preserving all election-related materials, including data, CCTV footage, and digital records from the constituency. The Election Commission and the district electoral officer were instructed to maintain these materials.

On August 19, the single bench of Justice Sugato Majumdar cautioned Banerjee’s counsel that the court may pass an ex parte order against him if he failed to respond to the election petition, following which his lawyers sought more time. However, the court set August 28 as the deadline for his response, cautioning that failure to comply would lead to an ex parte order.

Tanusree Bose

Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram