TMC sweeps civic polls in Bengal

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) won all the seven civic bodies in West Bengal that had gone to polls on August 13.

But the elections once again threw up the BJP as the leading opposition force here. The party came in second in most places, displacing the Left and the Congress. While the Left front came third, the Congress performed dismally, failing to win any seat.

Keeping in line with its performance so far, the ruling TMC stormed to power in all the places.

In at least three of the seven municipalities, it won all the seats, thereby ensuring that these local bodies remain opposition-free. For example, in the Haldia municipality, once a Left bastion, the TMC won all the 29 seats.

At the Durgapur Municipal Corporation in Paschim Burdwan district, it captured all the 43 wards. It was the same story at the Cooper’s Camp municipality at Nadia, where the TMC won all the 12 seats.

This apart, the Trinamool secured victories in Panskura municipality in Purba Medinipur, Nalhati in Birbhum, Buniyadpur in Dakshin Dinajpur district, and Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district.

The BJP won six seats in three of the seven local bodies. It won four seats in Dhupguri in North Bengal and one each at Buniyadpur in Dakshin Dinajpur (north Bengal) and Panskura in the Purba Medinipur district.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh alleged that the TMC had used money and muscle power to win elections. “We all know that the TMC used money and muscle power to win the elections. In spite of a reign of terror, we came in second,” he said.

The Left put up a poor show, with the Forward Bloc, a front partner, saving face by winning one seat at Nalhati.

“The results are a reflection of people’s faith in the TMC government. The Opposition has not done anything constructive,” said TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee.

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