ELECTION RESULT

Forward Bloc's supremacy in two Panchayat Samitis

 

COOCH BEHAR, May 22: The CPI-M lost its control over two Panchayat Samitis in Cooch Behar district but the Left Front was collectively able to retain the ten remaining Panchayat Samitis. The Forward Bloc was able to come out as the single largest party at three Panchayat Samitis and the CPI-M at seven Panchayat Samitis.

 

Out of 29 seats in Mathabhanga-I, the CPI-M bagged 24 seats and the Trinamul Congress 5 seats. In Mathabhanga-II the CPI-M got 16 seats out of 29 seats and the Trinamul Congress 13 seats.

 

In Dinhata-I the CPI-M won in 13 seats, the Forward Bloc in 13 seats, the Trinamul Congress in 2 seats and the Congress in 13 seats. Here the total number of seats is 41. In 33 seats in Dinhata-II the Forward Bloc bagged 18 seats, the CPI-M 10 seats and the Trinamul Congress 5 seats.

 

The party position in other Panchayat Samitis is as follows :

 

Mekhliganj (21) : Forward Bloc –18, CPI-M –5, Congress –2; Sitalkuchi (24) : CPI-M –19, Forward Bloc –3, CPI –1, Trinamul Congress –1; Sitai (15) : FB –10, CPI-M –2, Independents –3; Tufanganj-I (35) : Trinamul Congress –16, BJP –2, Independent –2, CPI-M –15; Tufanganj-II (29) : Trinamul Congress –8, BJP –8, Congress –1, Independent –2, CPI-M –10; Cooch Behar-I (43) : CPI-M -15, Forward Bloc –13, Trinamul Congress –5, Congress –4, BJP –1, Independent –5; Cooch Behar-II (39) : CPI-M –23, Trinamul Congress –5, Forward Bloc –3, Congress –4, BJP –3, Independent –1; Haldibari (15) : CPI-M –8, Forward Bloc –6, Congress –1. []

 

Mahajot rusticates CPI-M from two Panchayat Samitis

 

COOCH BEHAR, May 22: Tufanganj sub-division is known as the Red Bastion of the CPI-M in Cooch Behar district but the result of the three-tier panchayat election squandered that myth. The CPI-M lost its control over the Panchayat Samitis in Tufanganj-I and Tufanganj-II.

 

In Tufanganj-I CPI-M received 15 seats only. Here the Trinamul Congress bagged 16 seats, BJP two seats and independent candidates two seats. In Tufanganj-II CPI-M got 10 seats, Trinamul Congress 8 seats, BJP 8 seats, Congress one seat and independent candidates two seats. Mahajot (grand alliance) of Trinamul Congress and others is likely to form boards in these two Panchayat Samitis.

 

Secretary of Cooch Behar district CPI-M, Mr Chandi Pal admitted that their result was not good in the two Panchayat Samitis. He passed the blame on the grand alliance of forces like KLO, ULFA, GCDP, Kamtapuris and others. He however admitted of organisational weaknesses of the party too. At the same time he maintained that the Left Front done well in Zilla Parishad tire by securing 27 seats in 29 seats.

 

The result is not well enough for the Left Front, believes the district Forward Bloc secretary Mr Udayan Guha. At the same time he said that Forward Bloc did well than the previous election. About the Left Front's defeat in two Panchayat Samitis in Tufanganj he opined, "We should think over it. We should correct our errors to get rid of more damages."

 

When asked about the two ZP seats where the CPI-M and the FB wrestled against each other but the FB candidates lost to the CPI-M candidates, Mr Guha said, "We missed a chance to be glad but it is still good that no anti-LF candidate won in those seats by taking advantage of the difference between two LF parties".

 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh termed the CPI-M's defeat in two Panchayat Samitis in Tufanganj as the verdict of the people against the CPI-M's misrule and tyranny.

 

Apprehending that Tufanganj and some other areas may pose as the turning point, political bigwigs like state CPI-M secretary Mr Biman Bose, Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee, Congress leaders Dr Manas Bhuinya and Mr Somen Mitra and BJP leader Mr Rahul Sinha had visited this district to campaign in favour of their candidates. []