The Hindu : Front Page : Left Front sweeps zilla parishad polls in West Bengal

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Left Front sweeps zilla parishad polls in West Bengal

Special Correspondent

Setback in Nandigram, Singur

Retains Hooghly zilla parishad
Makes inroads in Murshidabad

KOLKATA: The ruling Left Front swept the zilla parishad elections in West Bengal, winning in 13 out of the 17 bodies, but failed to retain control in three. The Congress and the Trinamool Congress with its allies won in two each.

The Left parties suffered major setbacks in both Nandigram and Singur.

The elections were held early this month along with the polls for panchayat samitis and gram panchayats.

Nandigram and Singur have been in the spotlight following unrest in the wake of the movement by the Trinamool-led Opposition against acquisition of farmland for setting up industries.

Apparently, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s decision to drop the plan to set up a chemical hub in the Nandigram area early last year, following protests, was not enough to ensure a Left Front victory of the seats in the Purbo Medinipur zilla parishad. This loss resonated in other parts of the district too and the Trinamool wrested control of the civic body for the first time.

Despite the jolt in the Singur area — the site of the Tata Motors project — the Left Front retained control of the zilla parishad in Hooghly.

It also made significant inroads in Murshidabad district, considered a Congress stronghold, and won the zilla parishad.

Another major outcome was the Left Front losing majority in the zilla parishad in South 24 Parganas district — the scene of clashes between supporters of the CPI(M) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party on the poll day. The Trinamool along with its allies emerged victorious in the district.

The Congress wrested the zilla parishad in North Dinajpur from the Left Front. The party retained its sway over the civic body in Malda district, despite the stiff fight put up by the Left.

The Left Front registered thumping majorities in the zilla parishads in Bankura, Burdwan Jalpaiguri, Birbhum, Purulia, Cooch Behar and South Dinajpur.

It retained control of the zilla parishads in Nadia, Paschim Medinipur and Howrah as well as in North 24 Parganas though the Trinamool made some substantial gains there.

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