CPI-M to contest by-polls in Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 21 (IANS) CPI-M’s Mrinal Chakraborty and Faiz Ahmed Khan will contest the September13 assembly by-election from Basirhat South and Chowringhee here respectively, the party said on Thursday.

Left Front chairman Biman Bose made the announcement here.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has fielded former Indian soccer captain Dipendu Biswas from Basirhat South and actress Nayana Bandopadhyay from Chowringhee.

The Basirhat seat fell vacant after the death of CPI-M legislator Narayan Mukhopadhyay.

The resignation of Trinamool legislator Sikha Mitra rendered the Chowringhee seat vacant. Sikha, wife of Congress leader Somen Mitra, left the Trianmool this year after being a party dissident for long.

The elections will be held Sep 13 and the votes will be counted on September 16.