JOIN US The Opposition Trinamool Congress and Congress combine crushed the LF in 13 of the 16 municipalities that went to the polls on Sunday last. While the TMC wrested control of six boards from the Front, the Congress snatched one, leaving a stunned state party leadership groping for reaction. That the Front would face a critical test in the civic body polls was on the cards; but no diehard Left supporter could imagine that the party could barely manage to retain control on three. While the TMC bagged six municipalities and the Congress three, the TMC- Congress combine romped home in four other civic bodies.
In a virtual replay of the LS polls, the LF’s slide continued, much to the chagrin of the party top brass, particularly in South Bengal as urban voters reposed their faith again in the opposition combine. In the three districts of South Bengal, namely North 24 and South 24 Parganas besides Howrah, Trinamool snatched six boards and significantly increased their winning margin which surprised even the TMC local leadership. Prior to the elections, the Front had controlled 11 of the 16 municipal boards. In a cliffhanger, the Front managed to retain the Rajarhat- Gopalpur municipality in North 24 Parganas. Another silver lining for the beleaguered Left was its victory in Mal in Jalpaiguri district in North Bengal where it wrested the civic body from the Congress.
In the LS polls, the TMC-Congress alliance bagged 26 of the 42 seats, leaving 15 for the Front.