Allegations of poll malpractice dull TMC's urban local body polls shine

A TMC MP claimed party would have won even if there was no rigging

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R Trinamool Congress registered a landslide victory in urban civic body polls, bagging 102 out of 108 municipalities. The victory has given the party definite control over the urban civic bodies across Bengal.

However, many political observers say the victory would have been respected had there been no violence and allegations of “massive rigging”. Television channels showed how people in many municipalities were turned back from poll booths by TMC workers who told them that their votes have already been cast.

A TMC MP claimed that his party would have won even if there was no rigging. “I don’t know why our party allowed that to happen. It made our workers complacent and would be fatal in upcoming major elections.”

The BJP had approached Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, requesting him to take up the matter with the election commission. Dhankhar spoke to state election commissioner Saurav Das on Tuesday, and called the happenings in the state “constitutional breakdown”.

There has been allegations that CCTV cameras were damaged in 107 municipalities before the election process began on February 27. The mater is under investigation.

Notwithstanding the allegations, what comes as a surprise is the emergence of a new party in Darjeeling. For the first time in the history, a small party, Hamro Party, which six months ago broke away from Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), emerged victorious. Hamro Party leader Ajay Edward beat GNLF, GJM (both separatists), BJP and the TMC.

This seems to be the only free and fair win the urban body polls.

Another seat that garnered attention is Taherpur municipality where CPI(M) regained control. At a time when the left has lost its ground in the state, the win in Taherpur in Nadia district boosted the morale of the party.

The BJP appears to be be the biggest loser. However, seat wise, the picture is different. The TMC won 1,376 wards (seats), and next to it is BJP with 58 wards. The Congress won 53 wards and came third, while the left is next with 40 wards. But if parties are not considered, independents are the second with 110 seats. Most of these independents are former TMC leaders, who the party said would not be taken back. However, there are chances that these leaders might be back in their party, in the days to come.