Kolkata, July 03: The Trinamool Congress has fared much better than its ally Congress in the civic polls held on June 28, the results of which were announced. The Left Front was routed by the Opposition alliance across 10 districts where 16 civic bodies went to the polls.
Congress, which won four municipal bodies in 2004, lost one to the CPM in North Bengal and could not wrest any civic body from the ruling Front. While the Trinamool, which had only one civic body in 2004, wrested nine from the CPM in South Bengal.
Agitated Congress supporters gheraoed local Congress leaders in Mal, Jalpaiguri, after the results were announced on Wednesday. They alleged the local leaders did not formulate a proper strategy to counter the CPM, which wrested Mal from the Congress.
The Trinamool will be able to form five municipal bodies without the Congres support. In South Dum Dum, Dum Dum, Madhyamgram, Rajpur-Sonarpur and Dankuni, the party has got an absolute majority. In Ulberia, Mahestala and Kulti, the Trinamool can form the board without the help of Congress, if it manages the support of Independent councillors. Party sources claimed most of the 10 Independent councillors in Uluberia and six Independents in Kulti municipality are followers of Trinamool Congress. So, the party will not be dependent on the Congress in seven civic bodies. For Egra and Asansol Municipal Corporations, the Trinamool needs Congress support to form the board.
Of the 427 seats in 16 civic bodies, the The Trinamool bagged 175, the Congress got 85, while the Left Front got 136. In all the districts of South Bengal, the Trinamool has emerged as the main political force. These districts consist of 245 Assembly constituencies where the CPM would have to confront the party in the 2011 big fight.
Total seats: 427
Trinamool: 175
Congress: 85
Left Front: 136
Total civic bodies: 16
Trinamool: 10
Congress: 3
Left Front: 3
-Agencies