Lekha G –
The TMC MP Derek O’Brien has sought replacement of Justice Kausik Chanda with another justice in the Nandigram poll plea filed by CM Mamata Banerjee alleging that Chanda had been affiliated to the BJP till 2018.
It was alleged that Chanda shared a bias with BJP leaders, including State Unit Chief Dilip Ghosh, in the past and had also represented the party in various cases.
It was also said that the Banerjee’s counsel too had written to the secretary of the Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court seeking reassignment of her petition fearing likelihood of bias on Chanda’s part.
Sanjay Basu, advocate of Mamata Banerjee in the letter said, “I on behalf of my client, humbly beseech you to forthwith place this letter before the acting Chief Justice for necessary reassignment of election petition so as to avoid any prejudice and/or presumption of any prejudice against my client.”
Mamata Banerjee in her petition had alleged voting irregularities in her narrow loss by 1,956 votes to Suvendu Adhikari, who went on to become the leader of Opposition in the assembly.
Further, the TMC candidates who lost to BJP nominees in Goghat, Balarampur, Bangaon Dakshin and Moyna constituencies filed petitions in the High Court.