Mamata Banerjee led TMC dominates Kolkata Civic Polls with big lead

Out of the 144 seats, TMC has won 54 and is leading on 78 as per the latest official trends.

Kolkata:For the third consecutive time, Trinamool Congress wrested control over the board of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Out of the 144 seats, TMC has won 54 and is leading in 78 as per the latest official trends.

"It's a landmark victory, it has sent a clear message that people have accepted our work. BJP, Left & Congress are nowhere," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Till 12 noon, Trinamool Congress candidates have been declared elected or are ahead of opponents in 133 out of a total of 144 wards. In 2015, Trinamool Congress nominees were declared elected from 131 wards.

After two and hours of counting for the election for the formation of the new board of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the trend is clear. As expected Trinamool Congress is heading for a landslide victory with their candidates either declared victorious or ahead of the opponents by massive margins. As per the latest trend, Trinamool Congress are ahead of opponents in 133 out of a total of 144 wards.

But, what was surprising was the shift in voters’ choice of the opposition space in KMC. As per the latest trend, the Left Front is leading in four wards leaving BJP in third place at three. In terms of voting percentage, the Left Front is also ahead of BJP by securing 9.1 per cent of votes polled against BJP’s eight per cent.

Congress is ahead of opponents in two wards. Independents are ahead or declared victors in two wards.

All the heavyweight candidates of Trinamool Congress Firhad Hakim, Kajori Bandopadhyay, Debasish Kumar, Mala Roy and Paresh Pal are leading. Not in a single borough of a total of 16 boroughs, any of the opposition parties have been able to make a substantial dent in the strong Trinamool Congress fort. Hakim, perceived to be the mayor of KMC once again, had already met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee soon after the counting started at 8 am.

The minimum number of rounds will be 13 while the maximum number of rounds will be 16. Each counting centre has been allotted seven counting tables.

One assistant returning municipal officer is in charge of each counting centre. A total of 3,000 police personnel have been deployed at the counting centres.

The counting agents have been barred from entering the counting centres with mobile phones. The Kolkata police are giving hourly reports to the State Election Commission.

It is expected that the clear picture of the counting will be out by 3 pm.

The polling for the KMC polls took place on December 19. Despite assurance from Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress’s national general secretary Avishek Bandopadhyay, there were reports of widespread violence and election malpractices on the polling day. Two petitions have already been filed in the Calcutta High Court on the violence.