WB municipal polls: Advantage TMC, counting on Tuesday

Polling for the six municipalities in West Bengal is over amidst allegations and counter-allegations of violence and irregularities by contesting parties.

Counting will be done on Tuesday. Over 85 per cent of the voters exercised their rights despite scorching sun and excessive humidity and braving sporadic incidents of violence. This election has further aggravated the bitterness between two ruling parties, Congress and Trinamool Congress. Polling was held at Durgapur Municipal Corporation in Burdwan district and municipalities of Panskura, Haldia (East Midnapore), Dhupguri (Jalpaiguri), Cooper's Camp (Nadia) and Nalhati (Birbhum).

All the contesting parties have leveled charges of irregularities and violence against ruling Trinamool Congress, but President of TMC Youth wing Subhendu Adhikari, MP, rubbished all the charges and thanked people and administration for ‘a peaceful and fair’ election. On the other hand, Left Front chairman Biman Bose demanded re-polling in 29 booths which were ‘jammed and captured by TMC cadres’.
 
Partner of the ruling coalition Congress raised serious allegations against the role of the administration. Pradesh Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya, MP, said, “The administration was a mute spectator as Trinamool-backed miscreants tried to influence the voters by resorting to violence. Had the administration been impartial, such incidents would not have taken place."

This election is being viewed as a test case to measure Mamata Banerjee and her government popularity after a year of her rule. The Left also looking to the results, though their expectation has been scaled down. Congress is targeting to retain control over Coopers Camp and Nalhati, the two municipalities TMC snatched from them through defection among elected Congress councilors. To some extent, Nalhati became prestige fight as Abhijit Muherjee, the son of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is MLA from this assembly constituency.

On the other hand, TMC is sure to grab prestigious Haldia and Durgapur — two industrial townships, which would help them to claim that TMC and its Supremo does not represent farmers only. Both these civic bodies were with CPM earlier. Left may score fairly better at Dhupguri and Panshkura municipalities, opined experts.