Trinamool Congress celebrates its third consecutive win since 2016 assembly polls by capturing four civic bodies out of seven. The CPM who ruled the states for three decades failed to open its account in the civic polls. It is for the first time that any party from the plains could pave their path to enter into the hills and win. Four municipalities had gone to polls and Trinamool secured one. BJP secured the second position. An unsaid rule is followed in the hills that no mainstream parties from the plains could reign in this region. The Gorkha Janmukhi Morcha usually enjoys the concentrated power, but it is for the first time that Mamata Bannerjee’s party could win one of the four civic bodies.
Trinamool Congress won in Mirik municipality. Apart from this Trinamool won in six wards in three municipalities – Darjeeling, Kalimpomg and Kurseong. This win has changed the monopoly rule of GJM to multiparty democracy.
Soon after the victory Mamta Banerjee tweeted “Congratulations to Ma Mati Manush for again and again putting their trust in us. We are honored, privileged and humbled. Congratulations to my brothers and sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling, Kalimpomg, Kurseong and Mirik for participating in the democratic process.”
Congratulations to my brothers/sisters in hill areas of Darjeeling Kurseong Kalimpong Mirik for participating in the democratic process 2/4
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 17, 2017
She further thanked the people of Mirik for believing in them and promised to work sincerely, adding that the hills are smiling as after so many decades a new era will begin.
By allying with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, BJP marked its presence in north Bengal. It won two of the 16 seats and ranked second in 14 wards in Pujali municipality in the south 24 Paragana district. BJP State president Dilip Gosh stated that they could have formed the board in Pujali if normal polling process was allowed to happen. He further added that the ruling Trinamool Congress had cheated by looting votes with the help of their goons and bombs and bullets.
After the upgradation of Panchayat Samiti to municipality with 21 wards in Domkol, where the concentration of Muslim population is more than 80%, it has been the first election for the people there. This area was under the control of Left Front and Congress. Of the 21 wards, Trinamool won in 18 wards, Congress won in 2 and Left in 1. Though the tally changed when after the result, one of the Congress candidate and Left Front candidate joined Trinamool, now with Trinamool having 20 wards and Congress having 1. Mamta Banerjeee looted votes here, by dividing the hill tribes making 15 different boards as she knew the party could not fight the hill party. For the first time the opposition party withdrew its candidates because of the violence.
After Congress’s strong foothold for 15 years in Raiganj, Trinamool finally took over and demolished Congress and BJP won 1 seat, rising BJP as the second political force in Bengal. Congress and Left Front suffered defeat in Damkol also.