Results of polls to four civic corporations declared on Monday showed that the Trinamul Congress was too strong for the Opposition to handle. The results were marked by landslide victories by Trinamul, slide in the BJP’s vote share and rise in the Left’s vote percentage compared to its performance in these segments in the 2021 Assembly polls.
A closer look at two of the four bodies where polls were held on Saturday.
Chandernagore
Total wards: 33 (32 wards went to the polls)
Results of 2022: Trinamul (31), Left Front (1)
Results of 2021: Trinamul had lead in 30 out of 33 wards in Assembly polls in 2021 and the BJP had lead in three wards. Trinamul had won the Chandernagore Assembly seat in 2021.
Reasons: The BJP was rejected by urban voters in Hooghly even in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. People of Chandernagore had voted for Trinamul last year, too. Trinamul leaders, however, claimed development projects undertaken by the outgoing municipal corporation were behind voters giving them one more chance.
What Opposition say: Both the CPM and the BJP accused Trinamul of turning the election into a hoax. The BJP staged demonstrations in front of Chandernagore SDO office on poll day and day of the results on Monday.
Plan: “We have to continue several projects and provide better civic services to residents of Chandernagore. We are committed to giving our best service to people who gave us a clear mandate. We would review the need of additional civic amenities in each ward,” said Ram Chakraborty, the chairperson of the existing board of administrators at Chandernagore.
Asansol
Total wards: 106
Results of 2022: Trinamul (91), BJP (7), Left Front (2), Congress (3), Others (3)
Results of 2021: The BJP had lead in 60 wards in the last Assembly polls. The BJP secured two Assembly seats out of five in the civic area, while Trinamul bagged three constituencies in 2021. In 2015,
Trinamul had won in 76 wards, BJP eight, Left Front 17, Congress three and others two.
Reasons: Infighting within the BJP and importance of turncoats in the party irked the old timers who did not work properly. Secondly, the BJP failed to revive its organisation here after the debacle in the last Assembly polls. Trinamul insiders said the party had been winning since 2009 and people appreciated the civic amenities provided by the corporation.
What Opposition say: The BJP and the CPM said the results did not reflect people’s mandate as it had been rigged. “The ruling party, with the help of police and goons, rigged the polls. Our candidates were beaten up, intimidated and even abducted,” said Jitendra Tiwari, a BJP leader whose wife won from ward 27.
Plan: Trinamul leaders said more development works would be undertaken after this victory. “The state is developing fast under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and as her soldiers, we will continue the good work,” said Abhijit Ghatak, one of the mayor aspirants in Asansol.
