West Bengal Panchayat Election: 'Victory over 90% seats shows our strength at grassroot level', says Mamta Banerjee

The counting of votes began at 8 am amid tight security, the State Election Commission officials said.

Image: ANI

Kolkata: The ruling Trinamool Congress looks set for a resounding victory in rural Bengal after nearly eight hours of counting of votes in the three-tier state Panchayat elections, with control over 90 per cent of the Gram Panchayat seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged a distant second in almost all the districts. Here are the updates:  TMC supremo Mamta Banerjee said: " TMC has emerged victorious in 90% seats despite the opposition parties coming together. This shows how strong we are at the grassroot level"

TMC has emerged victorious in 90% seats despite the opposition parties coming together. This shows how strong we are at the grassroot level: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee #PanchayatElections pic.twitter.com/8sWBQaSyTG

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018

2 PM: The Trinamool Congress reinforced its dominant position in rural West Bengal's local bodies, bagging 9,270 seats in gram panchayats, while the BJP emerged as the main challenger to the ruling party in most districts, according to results available till 2 pm today. State Election Commission (SEC) sources said the TMC was also ahead in 2,317 gram panchayat seats for which counting is in progress. The BJP has won 2,079 seats and is leading in 200 seats, while the CPI(M) captured 562 gram panchayat seats and is ahead in another 113, the SEC sources said. The Congress won 315 seats and is leading in 61 seats, they said. According to the SEC, the TMC has so far won 95 panchayat samiti seats and is leading in another 65, while the other parties are yet to open their accounts. In zilla parishads, the TMC has won 10 seats and is leading in 25 seats. 12 noon: The ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday surged ahead by registering victory in over 2,400 gram panchayat seats, according to the results available till 12 noon, SEC officials said. The BJP and the CPI(M) won 386 and 94 gram panchayat seats respectively, the State Election Commission officials said. According to the SEC, the TMC has won 2,467 gram panchayat seats and is leading in 2,683 seats. The BJP has won 386 seats and is leading in 231 seats while the CPI(M) won 94 seats and is leading in 163 seats, the officials said. The Congress won 33 seats and is leading in 55 seats. Independent candidates have emerged winners in 158 seats and are leading in 163 seats. As per latest trends available for panchayat samiti seats, the TMC has won 14 seats and leading in 24 seats. The other parties are yet to open their account in panchayat samiti seats. The TMC was leading in 24 zilla parishad seats. The panchayat elections were held for 621 zilla parishads, 6,123 panchayat samitis and 31,802 gram panchayatsin West Bengal on May 14. The counting of votes began at 8 am amid tight security, the State Election Commission officials said. Of the 48,650 seats in 3,358 gram panchayats, 16,814 were uncontested and of the 9,217 seats in 341 panchayat samitis, 3,059 were uncontested. In the 20 zilla parishads, 203 of the 825 seats were uncontested, the sources of PTI said. LIVE UPDATES:

West Bengal: TMC workers celebrate as their party is leading in #PanchayatElections. Visuals from North 24 Parganas. Counting still under progress. pic.twitter.com/ZJyC8JdlK3

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018

West Bengal: TMC workers celebrate as their party is leading in #PanchayatElections. Visuals from North 24 Parganas. Counting still under progress. pic.twitter.com/ZJyC8JdlK3

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018

• The elections were not held in a fair and transparent manner. The officials at counting centres are working under fear. We demand a judicial inquiry into it: Md. Saleem, CPI (M)

 

• According to a media report, Congress has alleged TMC-backed goons shot one of their supporters dead in South Dinajpur's Chopra

 

• #WestBengal #PanchayatElection: Out of the total 31,814 that were contested for, TMC has won 110 & is leading on 1,208, BJP has won 4 & is leading on 81, while CPI(M) has won 3 seats & has a lead on 58. Counting in progress.

#WestBengal: Police has seized 40 mobile phones from a counting centre set up at Jalpaiguri's Polytechnic Institute.#PanchayatElection pic.twitter.com/Hh2x1Df0RR

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2018

• Criticising the West Bengal Election Commission for "failing to conduct free and fair" panchayat elections, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Wednesday said democracy has been murdered in the state.

 

• Sporadic violence and clashes between opposing political groups marred the West Bengal panchayat polls on Monday, and after 12 persons were killed in widespread violence during the election, post poll clashes continue to rock parts of the state.