Trinamool Congress Dominates Bengal Panchayat Polls, TMC Sweeps Except in Two Hill Districts; ISF Makes Inroads in Stronghold

NEWS WAVE INDIA: In the West Bengal panchayat elections, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) emerged as the clear winner, sweeping the three-tier elections in every district except Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the second position, while the Left-Congress alliance came in third.

Initially, there were expectations that the Congress and CPI(M) alliance would perform well in Murshidabad and Malda districts, but the TMC was leading in both districts. However, the Indian Secular Front (ISF) made a strong impression in its stronghold of Bhangar, particularly in Muslim-dominated areas. The ISF, in alliance with the CPI(M) and an anti-land acquisition committee, gave tough competition to the TMC in some blocks of Bhangar, which witnessed significant violence during the polls.

By 6 pm, the TMC had won 18,590 gram panchayat seats out of a total of 63,229 contested seats. The BJP secured a distant second with 4,479 seats, followed by the CPM with 1,426 seats and the Congress with 1,071 seats. Independent candidates won a similar number of gram panchayat seats as the Congress, totaling 1,062.

In terms of panchayat control, the TMC was set to win 2,138 out of a total of 3,317 panchayats, while the BJP was leading in 122, the Congress in 26, and the Left Front in 15. Other parties and independent candidates were leading in 103 gram panchayats across the state.

In the panchayat samitis, the TMC had won 112 out of 9,740 seats by 6 pm and was leading in 59 more. The BJP was leading in 9 panchayat samitis, and the Left Front was leading in 2.

In the zilla parishad seats, the TMC was ahead, having won 18 out of the total 928 seats by 6 pm, while results for the remaining seats were yet to be announced.

In the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, which fall under the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA), the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), an ally of the TMC, initially took the lead. However, the TMC had not opened its account yet, while the BGPM had won in 33 out of 70 gram panchayats. Together, the alliance controls the GTA.

The elections, held on July 8, witnessed a voter turnout of 80.71 percent but were marred by violence. At least 21 people were killed, and incidents of booth capturing, ballot box looting, and destruction of ballot papers were reported.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee expressed gratitude to the people of West Bengal for supporting the party, noting that even a malicious campaign and baseless propaganda against the state government did not sway the voters. Minister Babul Supriyo from the BJP acknowledged the people of Bengal for rejecting divisive politics, while the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, claimed that the TMC had “looted” the votes through electoral malpractices and violence. The BJP also highlighted the refuge sought by individuals in Assam due to violence during the panchayat elections.