Kolkata (West Bengal): Despite widespread allegations of violence against the ruling party Trinamool Congress has maintained its dominance in West Bengal as it inched closer to a sweeping victory in violence-scarred rural polls, bagging more than half the seats and leaving its rivals trailing way behind in results declared till 9.30 pm by the State Election Commission.
The TMC has won 34,980 gram panchayat seats, besides leading in 570 seats, according to the SEC. In all, elections were held for 63,229 gram panchayat seats. The ruling party's nearest rival BJP has won 9,735 seats and is leading in 142 seats. The CPI(M) has won 2,940 and is leading in 65 seats. The Congress won 2,549 seats and is leading in 62.
The TMC won 6,467 panchayat samiti seats while leading in 184 seats. The BJP has won 990 and is leading in 48 seats, while CPI(M) has won 182 seats and is leading in 13 and Congress has won 267 seats and is leading in 6 seats. Elections were held for 9,728 panchayat samiti seats. The TMC has also won 685 zila parishad seats so far and is leading in 144 others, with this it seems set to repeat its 2018 performance of controlling all the zila parishads, despite marginally better showing by the BJP and CPI(M)-Congress alliance in some districts.
The BJP has in contrast won 21 and is leading in 6 seats. The CPI(M) has won two seats, while Congress has won six and is leading in five. In all, there are 928 zila parishad seats. Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls began at 8 am on Tuesday at 339 venues spread across 22 districts. The counting is over though it will take some more time to upload the results on the SEC website, an official said.
Also read: West Bengal panchayat polls: State BJP chief sits on dharna, alleges TMC of 'fabricating results'
These panchayat elections, often regarded as a litmus test of popularity for political parties, carry added significance as they provide insights into the support base of Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, particularly in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Banerjee has congratulated the people the West Bengal for their overwhelming support for the party. The Chief Minister in her Facebook post wrote, "It's TMC all the way in rural Bengal. I want to thank the people for their love, affection, and support towards the TMC. This election has proved that only TMC resides in the heart of the people of the state".
However, the electoral process leading up to the announcement of these results was marred by widespread violence. The polls, which were held on Saturday, July 8, were characterized by incidents of violence and disruptions. The situation deteriorated further during the repolling held on Monday, resulting in the tragic deaths of nearly 20 people. Repolling took place in 696 booths amidst serious allegations of electoral fraud, booth capturing, and various irregularities, including voter suppression.
Instances of violence during the election process included the detonation of explosives near a counting centre in Murshidabad, as well as the use of batons by the police to disperse a crowd in Howrah. Such incidents underscore the volatile atmosphere and heightened tensions that overshadowed the electoral proceedings.
The opposition BJP has vehemently accused the Trinamool Congress of resorting to desperate measures to manipulate the election results. They alleged that Trinamool "goons" prevented opposition observers, counting agents, and candidates from entering the counting centres, thereby undermining the integrity of the electoral process. Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition, criticized the Trinamool's tactics, citing instances where counting agents were obstructed, and bombs were hurled to intimidate them.
In response to these allegations, the Trinamool Congress has refuted the claims and stated that a significant percentage of those killed during the poll violence were actually their own party workers or supporters. These counterclaims further contribute to the tense political environment surrounding the elections.
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in his Tweet wrote “The dejection of the combined opposition of BJP, CPIM and INC pales in comparison to the sadness that must be felt by friends from mainstream media. Even a malicious campaign with baseless propaganda to malign the AITC State Govt in WB couldn't sway the voters!”.
“Grateful to the people for converting Oppn’s ‘NO VOTE TO MAMATA’ campaign to ‘NOW VOTE FOR MAMATA.’ With unwavering support to #TrinamooleNaboJowar, we'll surely have a roaring mandate, paving the way for LS elections. Bengal, I thank you for all the love,” he added.
The rampant violence and allegations of tampering with ballot boxes have raised concerns about the electoral process and prompted West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to submit a report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Governor Bose has also warned of stern action against those responsible for inciting violence and disrupting the elections. The report serves as a reflection of the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for intervention to ensure fair and peaceful elections.
As the dust settles on the panchayat elections, the Trinamool Congress celebrates its sweeping victory in West Bengal. However, the widespread violence and allegations of electoral irregularities cast a shadow over the outcome, underscoring the need for a thorough investigation and accountability. The repercussions of these elections are likely to have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of West Bengal and could influence the trajectory of the upcoming national elections.
