Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy today said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is bound to win the by-poll from Bhabanipur assembly seat by a "huge margin".
In a series of tweets, Mr Kumaraswamy also slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for contesting by-polls from the Bhabanipur assembly seat.
"It is not surprising that BJP's own leader Rajib Banerjee has said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is bound to win the by-poll from Bhavanipur assembly seat by a huge margin in a contest that has attracted the attention of the entire country," he said.
Supporting BJP leader Rajib Banerjee's statement, the JD(S) leader said Mamata Banerjee is not just a leader, but the "real pulse and heartbeat of Bengalis."
"He (Rajib Banerjee) has publicly expressed a view that it would have been better if the BJP had refrained from fielding its candidate in the by-poll. There is truth in what he has said. Because Mamata Banerjee is not just a leader, but the real pulse and heart beat of Bengalis," he tweeted.
Mr Kumaraswamy said that Mamata Banerjee had scripted history in April itself by winning 214 of the total 294 seats in the Assembly elections.
"It is not possible for anyone to prevent the creation of history. Actually, Mamata Banerjee had scripted history in April itself by winning 214 of the total 294 seats in the Assembly elections. Now she is geared up to create a new history," Mr Kumaraswamy tweeted.
He said that the political parties should "understand" and also "respect people's emotions" as well as "democratic values."
"All the political parties should have co-operated in electing Mamata Banerjee unopposed in the by-election by refraining from fielding any candidate against her," he said.
The JD(S) leader stated that the BJP should abandon its narrow mindset and display greatness because there is nothing bigger in a democracy than the support of the people.
"People of West Bengal have already given her a clear and decisive mandate. It is my personal view that the BJP should have shun its narrowmindedness and displayed large-heartedness. Because there is nothing bigger in a democracy than the support of people," he added.
The Bhabanipur assembly seat was vacated by the West Bengal Agriculture Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay in May, making way for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to contest from Bhabanipur seat.
On September 10, the Election Commission of India announced the schedule of by-polls to be held in the state. According to the schedule, the by-election in Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency in West Bengal will be held on September 30.
The Election Commission also informed that by-polls will also be held in Samserganj and Jangipur of West Bengal and Pipli constituency of Odisha on the same date. The counting of votes will be taken up on October 3.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Hung House In J&K, PDP May Be Deciding Factor: Poll Of Exit Polls Anti-Terror Searches Underway At 22 Locations Across 5 States "UN Security Council Not Fixable In Current Format": US Ex Envoy To NDTV Highlights - Congress Comeback In Haryana, Hung Verdict In J&K: Poll Of Exit Polls Congress To Win Haryana, Hung House In J&K: Poll Of Exit Polls Hezbollah Heir Apparent Out Of Contact After Israeli Air Strikes: Report RG Kar Horror: Bengal Doctors Begin "Fast Unto Death" In Kolkata 1 Member Of SAARC Practising "Cross-Border Terrorism": S Jaishankar Idea Of Simultaneous Polls Not Against Constitution, Says Ram Nath Kovind Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.