Trinamool Cong wrests Nandigram seat from LF

Trinamool Congress today humbled the Left Front in its bastion Nandigram, the scene of the prolonged agitation against land acquisition for an industrial project, wresting the seat in the Assembly by-election by a convincing margin.

The Congress and CPI-M retained Sujapur and Para constituencies in West Bengal respectively. Trinamool Congress candidate Firoza Bibi defeated LF-backed CPI nominee Paramananda Bharati by 39,551 votes in a multi-cornered contest, official sources said.

Earlier, Trinamool Congress had swept the panchayat elections in Nandigram and East Midnapore district in May last year. Trinamool had fielded Firoza Bibi, an activist of Trinamool-led Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, whose son was killed in the police firing in March, 2007 during the agitation against land acquisition for an industrial project in Nandigram.

The by-election was caused by the resignation of CPI MLA Mohammad Illyas after he faced allegations of corruption following a sting operation.

Congress candidate Mausam Benazir Noor, daughter of sitting MLA Ruby Noor, whose death had necessitated the by-poll, won the Sujapur constituency in Malda by defeating her nearest CPI-M rival Haji Ketabuddin by over 21,205 votes.

CPI(M) retained the Para seat in Purulia district as its candidate Minu Bauri defeated her nearest Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Soren) nominee Charan Bauri by over 40,000 votes.