TMC decimates opposition in Bengal civic polls, wins 93 of 107 municipalities

Kolkata, March 2

Ten months after its landslide victory in the West Bengal Assembly polls, the ruling Trinamool Congress on Wednesday steamrolled the entire opposition in the civic elections, bagging 93 of 107 municipalities, an SEC official said.

The TMC bagged Kanthi municipality, the bastion of Leader of Opposition and Nandigram’s BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, while Hamro Party, a new entrant in hill politics, trounced TMC, GJM and BJP to win Darjeeling municipality.

The CPI (M)-led Left Front won Taherpur municipality in Nadia district.

The BJP and the Congress are yet to win a civic body, although the parties have won a few wards in some towns.

“The TMC has already won 93 municipalities and is leading in seven others. The Left Front has won one civic body, and Hamro Party has won one,” the State Election Commission (SEC) official said.

The TMC has reduced the opposition’s tally to zero in 27 municipalities, securing all the wards.

At least four municipalities ndash; Beldanga in Murshidabad, Jhalda in Purulia, Champdani in Hooghly and Egra in Purba Medinipur district ndash; are hung, with no party securing a clear majority. Independents hold the key to board formation in these civic bodies.

Suvendu Adhikari and his family faced a massive setback as the TMC snatched Kanthi municipality, considered the Adhikari family’s backyard for the last four decades.

Hamro Party, a new outfit floated by Ajoy Edwards, a former GNLF leader and a popular restaurateur in Darjeeling, bagged the municipality in the hill town by defeating traditional powers Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, BJP and TMC.

Elections were scheduled in 108 municipalities, but the TMC won Dinhata municipality in Coochbehar district uncontested a few days back.