Kolkata, May 13: Astride chariots of victory, two powerful women politicians-Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalithaa fashioned landslide victories for Trinamool Congress and AIADMK in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively
while Congress leader Tarun Gogai hit a hat-trick in the sensitive
border state of Assam.
In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is
all set to bounce back to power with the Congress and its allies
winning or leading in 72 seats in the 140-member house.
Ending well entrenched 34-year-rule of Left parties-mainly CPI-M,
fighter Mamata Banerjee steamrolled rivals, clinching an absolute
majority in the West Bengal assembly. Her victory torpedoed the red
bastion with her party set to win three-fourths majority in the 294-
member house.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi
have already congratulated Mamata whose party is an ally of
the United Progressive Alliance at the Centre.
Congress leadership commenting on the outcome said today’s verdict
in West Bengal,Kerala and Assam had been quite satisfactory and
encouraging for the UPA.
Except for Tamil Nadu, the verdict is on expected lines, Union
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee commented and hailed profusely
victory of Congress in Assam.
–UNI