4 municipal corporations go to polls on Saturday; TMC eyes clean sweep

The elections are important for Opposition parties as they have to prove their presence by way of electoral relevance in the state after being virtually wiped out last year

Police personnel patrol a street in Siliguri on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s polls. : Passang Yolmo

TT Bureau   |   12.02.22 : Four municipal corporations in Bengal will go to the polls on Saturday amid doubts on whether the Opposition would be able to put up any fight following landslide victories by the ruling Trinamul Congress in recent elections, including those to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation, in December.

“The polls to four corporations are important for Opposition parties as they have to prove their presence by way of electoral relevance in the state after being virtually wiped out last year,” said a political scientist.

The elections are also important for the ruling party and the state administration as both have to prove — under judicial glare — that free, fair and peaceful polling in Bengal is possible in the absence of central forces.

A closer look at the four bodies follows.

Siliguri

Wards: 47

Total voters: Over 4 lakh

Results of last elections (held in 2015): Left-23, Trinamul-17, Congress-04, BJP-02, Independent-01

Issues: A number of local issues have been flagged during the campaign and they include traffic congestion and drinking water crisis.

The likely outcome: In 2015, the Left had formed the board with the support of an Independent. This time, Trinamul is back with full vigour and so is the BJP, which has managed to consolidate its support base in the city over the past three-four years.

Trinamul, unlike yesteryears, has emerged as a more united force this time with all local leaders joining hands to secure majority in the largest civic body of north Bengal which the party has never won so far.

The Left Front is confident of forming the board again, while Trinamul leaders are looking to win close to 40 seats. The “Siliguri model” is very much in practice with the Left and the Congress openly supporting each other.

The BJP, too, has claimed that people of the city will stand with the party this time.

Asansol

Wards: 106

Total voters: Over 9 lakh

Results of last elections (held in 2015): Left-17, Trinamul-76, Congress-3, BJP-8, Independent-2

Issues: Better drinking water supply, healthcare and educational infrastructure are promised by the Opposition. Trinamul claims much work has been done, while more will be carried out after the victory this time.

The likely outcome: Trinamul claims it would bag at least 100 seats. The BJP, with considerable strength in the area for a few years till the Assembly election last summer, is confident of winning 80.

The Left would like to make a mark with a few wards.

Chandernagore

Wards: 33

Total voters: Nearly 1.45 lakh

Results of last elections (held in 2015): Left-7, Trinamul-25, BJP-1

Issues: There are no specific larger civic issues, apart from few localised demands.

The likely outcome: With a clear edge, Trinamul is looking to win at least 28 seats.

The BJP had gained substantially in the area, one of the most urban pockets of Hooghly, after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but it weakened in the wake of the Assembly election debacle last summer.

Polling officials leave for a booth in Chandernagore on Friday.: Amit Kumar Karmakar

The Left remains confident of bagging three-four seats.

Bidhannagar

Wards: 41

Total voters: Over 4.46 lakh

Results of last elections (held in 2015): Left-2, Trinamul-37, Congress-2

Issues: There are no specific civic issues apart from few localised demands.

The likely outcome: The only thing that might work against Trinamul is anti-incumbency. Former mayor Sabyasachi Dutta, who had defected to the BJP last year, was taken back by Trinamul and given a ticket.

The BJP, which had emerged as the prime contender since 2019, is hardly visible in the contest. The inner conflicts within the saffron camp have added to its erosion.

The Left hopes to secure second position in terms of vote share and win a few wards.

(Reporting by Avijit Sinha, Abhijeet Chatterjee, Snehamoy Chakraborty and Arkamoy Datta Majumdar)

(https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/4-municipal-corporations-go-to-polls-on-saturday-tmc-eyes-clean-sweep/cid/1851552)