Continuing its winning streak since the Assembly polls of 2011, in which it turned the tables on three decades of Left rule, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) further strengthened its position by winning eight of the 12 municipalities on Tuesday.
The Trinamool’s superior position became evident as results for the September 21 polls began to arrive on Tuesday morning. By 4 pm, the party had consolidated its position taking eight municipalities.
While the Congress stood a distant second, the Left was found desolate with just one. Before the recently-concluded polls the Left held five municipalities, Congress four and Trinamool three.
Announcing the results, state election commission’s secretary, Tapas Roy said, “Trinamool has won in municipalities of Balurghat, Burdwan, Gushkhara, Dubrajpur, Panihati, Habra, Diamond Harbour and Chakdah. Congress won in Haldibari and Dalkhola municipal bodies with Left winning Mekhliganj.”
While the result in Alipurduar municipal body remained hung with no party being able to reach the majority mark, the Trinamool swept the elections, establishing itself as the most significant force in Bengal. A rather cornered Congress retained Dalkhola in South Dinajpur district) and Haldibari in Cooch Behar district.
Burdwan and Chakdah municipalities have been rendered opposition-less with Trinamool scoring a clean sweep in both, as the CPM on September 21 withdrew all candidates and polling agents from both the municipalities, alleging “widespread malpractice and intimidation” by the ruling party.
In Burdwan, the Trinamool won all 35 seats and all 21 seats in Chakdah.
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