(UDHAYAM, KOLKATA) – Continuing its political dominance in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday (17) won four of the seven civic bodies in the State that went to polls on May 14.
While the ruling party swept three civic bodies – Domkal, Raiganj and Pujali – in the plains, TMC also won Mirik Notified Area in the Darjeeling hills. This is the first time in the last three decades that a political party from the plains has been able to snatch victory from the hill parties that have dominated political scene in the hills.
Of the nine wards in Mirik, TMC won six wards and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) won three. The GJM has won three other civic bodies in the hills of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.
Neither the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nor the Left Front and Congress combine was able to put up any resistance to the TMC in the civic polls. Interestingly, a Congress councillor who won in the Domkal municipality, switched sides and joined Trinamool Congress soon after results were announced.
Allegations of irregularities and violence in the three civic bodies – Domkal, Raiganj and Pujali – were raised by the Opposition. The Congress has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking cancellation of the elections in the three civic bodies. The matter will come up for hearing during the day.
