WB civic polls peaceful barring some stray incidents

Brisk polling was recorded in the election to six municipalities across West Bengal today, the first major election after the 2011 Assembly polls, marked by some stray incidents of violence.

Viewed as the first major test of the popularity of the Trinamool Congress-led government after it stormed to power with an overwhelming mandate in the last Assembly polls, the elections were held amid tight security.

All 129 seats in the six civic bodies - Durgapur, Dhupguri, Haldia, Nalhati, Daspur and Coopers' Camp - witnessed triangular contests with the main contestants being from the Congress, Trinamool Congress and CPI(M)-led Left Front.

The seats were spread over five districts - Jalpaiguri, East Midnapore, Nadia, Birbhum and Bardhaman.

Cooper's Camp in Nadia has recorded the highest 92 per cent votes, while Election Commission sources said 80 per cent voters had cast their votes overall. The ruling alliance partners - TMC and the Congress - fought the elections independently, the split blamed on an acrimonious relationship between the two parties ever since they formed the government. Congress and oposition CPI-M alleged that the polls were far from free and fair and accused Trinamool activists of resorting to booth-capturing and rigging.

WBPCC President Pradip Bhattacharya said, "We are disappointed the way polls were held. Agents were physically assaulted and removed from booths by TMC workers. There were widespread irregularities. We have lodged a complaint with the state election commission."

CPI(M) also accused Trinamool Congress of harassing its candidates in Haldia, Panskura and Durgapur municipalities and said free and fair poll was not held at all.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose expressed apprehension that the presence of "outsiders" in some wards of Haldia municipality, might hamper free and fair election.

Complaining of irregularities, CPI(M) leaders alleged sporadic rigging and ransacking of their camp offices by TMC polling agents. They also alleged that their agents were forced to vacate booths in several places. Rubbishing the allegations, Trinamool Congress has said that the party would make a clean sweep in all the six municipalities. BJP has also put up candidates in all the six civic bodies.

The CPI-M-led Left Front, whose 34-year reign was terminated by the TMC-Congress alliance last year, is contesting in all 129 seats, barring some, and hoping to cash in on the triangular fights in many seats. In 2007, the Left Front had won in three of the six civic bodies. The Congress won two while the Congress-TMC alliance bagged one.

Of the six civic bodies, Nalhati has generated a keen interest among pollsters because the Congress campaign was led by local legislator Abhijit Mukherjee, son of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.