The ruling Trinamool Congress has recorded a landslide victory in the West Bengal municipal elections winning 102 of the 108 municipalities. Out of the 102 civic bodies won by the TMC, there is no opposition in 31 municipalities.
TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated all the winning candidates of the party and expressed gratitude over the “overwhelming mandate”.
The Left Front secured its victory in Taherpur Municipality in the Nadia district.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had emerged as the main Opposition party in West Bengal after winning 77 seats in the Assembly polls last year, failed to open its account.
The Congress too failed to win a single seat. Surprisingly, the newly-formed Humro Party won the Darjeeling Municipality.
The civic body polls recorded a 77 per cent turnout, marred with violence. Reports of intimidation allegedly by the TMC workers, electoral malpractices and attack on journalists emerged from various parts of the state during the polling day. The BJP, meanwhile, had demanded a repoll.
On Monday, the party had called for a 12-hour strike in the state against the civic poll violence and alleged electoral malpractices — a charge denied by the ruling TMC.
Tepid response to BJP strike against ‘vote fraud’
The 12-hour strike called by the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against alleged vote rigging received a lukewarm response across the state on Monday with little impact on normal life.
BJP leaders and workers clashed with the police in various parts of the state, to enforce the strike from 6am to 6pm in protest against civic poll violence and electoral malpractices allegedly by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) the previous day. Some BJP leaders were also detained.
Attacks on journalists and Opposition candidates, and clashes between TMC and BJP workers were reported during the polls to 108 civic bodies.
West Bengal civic polls: Counting today, SEC says 3-layered security in place
As part of what the SEC terms “three-layered” security arrangements, people will not be allowed to enter counting centres with mobile phones.
Only the Returning Officers concerned can use phone inside the counting centres. Polling agents of political parties only can carry pen and writing pad with them, the sources said.
Also, at the main counting centres and strongrooms, armed police personnel have been deployed.
Only polling agents can enter the counting room. Mediapersons can also enter but without cameras, the sources said.
