TMC sweeps civic polls, Mamata says victory of 'Ma, Mati, Manush'

The BJP got the opposition status by clinching five seats, whereas the Left was relegated to the third position

The four major municipal corporations that went to polls on 12 February have yielded most seats - 198 out of 226 to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

A decimated and complaining Opposition, with the BJP and a cumulative tally of Congress and CPI(M) - each at 12 seats, has reinforced Trinamool’s hold on the civic administrations, including Siliguri in Darjeeling district that has been with the Left.

In two of the four towns - Bidhannagar adjoining Kolkata, Chandernagore, the Left parties stood the second distant contender in terms of votes secured.

In Siliguri, an erstwhile Left bastion, Trinamool secured 47.24 per cent votes. The BJP got 23.24 percent. The Left parties received 18.28 per cent, with Congress at 5.32 per cent. Here, again, the Left and the Congress put together (23.6 per cent), which is close to BJP’s vote share.

The BJP had done exceedingly well in the state in the Lok Sabha elections, with 18 seats (out of 42) with around 41 per cent vote share. In 2021, it got 77 assembly seats (with Trinamool at 213) with around 38 per cent vote share. In the very local elections - municipal, as above - the Left seems to be doing relatively well. This, however, doesn’t bring it closer to the BJP that’s still the most strong political opposition to the ruling Trinamool in the state.

While a section of political observers feel that the absence of a coordinated effort and an infight as was observed within the party may have affected the BJP, quarrels were also observed within the Trinamool when lists of candidates were announced for 108 municipal bodies that are to go to polls on 27 February.

The parties in the Opposition, primarily the BJP, have raised concerns alleging that the municipal elections have not been free and fair. There’s also a demand for re-elections in two centers.

Meanwhile, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has considered the results a victory for her party’s efforts.

“It is once again an overwhelming victory of Ma, Mati, Manush. My heartiest congratulations to the people of Asansol, Bidhannagar, Siliguri & Chandanagore for having put their faith and confidence in All India Trinamool Congress candidates in the Municipal Corporation elections. We are committed to carrying forward our development work further with greater zeal and enthusiasm. My sincerest gratitude to Ma Mati Manush,” Mamata stated in a tweet.

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