West Bengal panchayat election result 2018 LIVE updates: The ruling Trinamool Congress, which has won 110 seats so far, is leading in 1,208 seats of the total 31,814 being contested. After the last date of filing of nominations, the Election Commission had said that the TMC won 34 percent seats uncontested. A quick glance at the results declared so far confirms the pattern of panchayat polls in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress is head and shoulders ahead of its rivals; only the most powerful pair of binoculars may be able to trace the Opposition's presence.
Congress supporters have blocked NH-31 after accusing TMC-backed criminals of shooting one of their supporters during clashes outside a counting centre in South Dinajpur.
The counting of votes begun across 20 districts amid fear of violence on Thursday morning. In North Bengal, the counting is underway in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Malda districts.
Poll officer Rajkumar Roy, who went missing on the polling day on 14 May, was found dead near the railway tracks in North Dinajpur district on Wednesday. Tweeting with the hashtag 'Save Bengal', the BJP alleged that the Roy was "kidnapped on duty" from polling booth before being "murdered".
The counting is being held a day after repolling was held in 568 booths of 20 districts across West Bengal. Meanwhile, the Centre termed as "sketchy" details on the panchayat polls violence and asked the West Bengal government to send another report.
Centre's second communication was sent two days after a similar one following large-scale violence during the elections to the local bodies in the state on Monday. Over a dozen lives were lost in the violence.
Aggrieved by the violence during the election that claimed at least 12 lives and left 43 injured, several candidates in the fray met the State Election Commission (SEC) officials and demanded repolling.
More than 38,000 of the 58,000-plus seats were up for contest in the panchayat polls. Before the polls, Trinamool candidates were elected unopposed in 34 percent of the seats, a figure the Supreme Court called "worrying" while directing the commission not to declare them winners. The rural elections were held in 621 zilla parishads and 6,157 panchayat samitis, besides in 31,827 gram panchayats.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Mamata Banerjee government over violence in the panchayat polls in West Bengal and called it "murder of democracy", the state's ruling Trinamool Congress responded by saying the PM had an "outburst of frustration". Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, "He should know that BJP goons killed 10 Trinamool workers in the panchayat polls. No BJP worker was killed".
With inputs from PTI
Updated Date: May 17, 2018 13:16 PM
Highlights
13:16 (IST)
'Murder of democracy' in West Bengal: TMC worker stamps ballot papers in booth; act caught on tape
If there's one picture that catches in a nutshell the "murder of democracy" in West Bengal, it is the image of a political worker, allegedly from the ruling party, barging into a counting centre in Nadia district's Majdia constituency and stamp ballot papers right in front of cameras. The footage, aired by local TV channel ABP Ananda, is a pointer to the blatant subversion of democracy in West Bengal under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, who is trying to fashion herself as the leader of the Opposition coalition against prime minister Narendra Modi.
According to media reports, local TMC goons barged into the booth when it was found that a Left Front candidate was leading. Widespread violence in Bengal over the polls has already claimed the lives of 27 people (including a presiding officer) while more than 70 have been injured. Repolling has been ordered in 572 booths.
12:57 (IST)
TMC workers celebrates as party leads across 20 districts
12:47 (IST)
TMC won 576 gram panchayats
According to News18, results till 12 pm for 656 out of 3254 gram panchayats in West Bengal (including uncontested wins) show TMC won 576, BJP 47, Congress at 8, Left Front 6 and others at 19.
12:22 (IST)
Indications are clear: TMC is the most dominant political force in West Bengal
A quick glance at the results declared so far confirms the pattern of panchayat polls in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress is head and shoulders ahead of its rivals; only the most powerful pair of binoculars may be able to trace the Opposition's presence. For instance, out of the 2,592 seats in East Midnapore gram panchayat, results are out in 419 till noon (remember, these are paper ballots). Of these, TMC is ahead in 390 seats, BJP in 14, while the Left Front is ahead in 9. In West Midnapore, out of 665 seats, the TMC is ahead in 608, BJP in 42 and the Left in 3. In Malda, the TMC is ahead in 247 seats so far, BJP in 21 while Left is ahead in 5. In Jhargram gram panchayat, the TMC is ahead in 190 seats, BJP in 51 and Left in 14. The same pattern is visible in panchayat samiti and zilla parishad seats.
The indications are clear. TMC is not only the ruling party in Bengal, it is also the most dominant political force. The BJP is clearly the chief Opposition party while the Left Front is a poor third, and Congress is non-existent. The panchayat polls are following the same template that we have noticed in every election in Bengal, be it in civic body or Assembly polls.
12:04 (IST)
CPM accuses TMC workers of violence in Bhatar village
The CPM has accused some TMC workers of assaulting its party agents in Bhatar village in East Bardhaman district, according to News18. The police have resorted to lathi charge outside a counting centre at Englishbazar in Malda,
11:53 (IST)
Congress alleges TMC-backed goons shot one of their supporters dead in South Dinajpur's Chopra
According to News18, Congress supporters have blocked NH-31 after accusing TMC-backed criminals of shooting one of their supporters during clashes outside a counting centre in South Dinajpur. The police have denied that the incident took place.
11:33 (IST)
TMC has maintained its victory march unabated
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had upped the ante in his speech to BJP functionaries on the day of polling in Karnataka, highlighting the "murder of democracy" in state. He had pointed out how violence had taken centre stage and every attempt was made to stifle the voice of the people. Given Bengal's gory history and tradition of violence, this wasn't surprising, much less so with Trinamool Congress at helm which has shown itself to be quite adept at learning the "art of election" from the Left.
Results pouring in from different corners of the state bear the truth of this statement. TMC has maintained its victory march unabated, and in most places its tally has already reached four figures in gram panchayat seats while the Opposition parties are yet to open account on counting day.
11:17 (IST)
TMC's Arabul Islam wins from Bhangar
TMC leader Arabul Islam wins from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, reports News18. Arabul was recently arrested, in connection with killing of an Independent candidate Hafizul Mollah. Mollah was shot dead when he was taking part in a rally in Bhangar on 11 May.
09:42 (IST)
Visuals from one counting centre in 24 North Parganas
09:33 (IST)
Counting underway in six districts of North Bengal
Counting of votes has begun in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Malda districts of North Bengal.
09:17 (IST)
Counting delayed at a counting centre in North 24 Parganas district
08:32 (IST)
Counting begins
The counting of votes has begun amid tight security. Counting for gram panchayats will be held first, followed by that of panchayat amiti and zilla parishad, according to DNA. The Election Commission has asked the counting to be wrapped up in 2 to 3 rounds.
07:58 (IST)
What's happening in West Bengal is unbelievable, says BJP's Sambit Patra
Reacting to the death of poll official Rajkumar Roy in North Dinajpur district, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "crying foul" of democracy being murdered. "What’s happening in Bengal is unbelievable," he said in a tweet.
06:32 (IST)
Democracy murdered in Bengal, says former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee
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.
"What we had seen on the day of panchayat polls was unprecedented. Was this the way rural polls were being conducted in the state? State Election Commission failed to conduct free and fair polls. Democracy has been brutally murdered in the state," he said.
Chatterjee said that many people were killed during the campaign and also on polling day and the administration was busy either hiding the number of casualties or blaming others. "The fight should be between ideologies not between political activists. This is shameful to witness such things happening in Bengal where people are not allowed to exercise their democratic right," said former CPM leader and MP.
06:19 (IST)
What happened during panchayat polls on 14 May
Despite massive security arrangements, widespread violence marred the panchayat polls. Clashes between the supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Opposition parties occurred in many parts of the state including North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and South Dinajpur districts.
More than 60,000 security personnel from West Bengal and neighbouring states were deployed for the panchayat polls on Monday.
06:12 (IST)
06:11 (IST)
Counting expected to begin at 7 am
06:07 (IST)
Updates begin for 17 May, Thursday
13:51 (IST)
Watch: Miscreants flee with ballot box in Malda district
10:13 (IST)
Voting underway in Cooch Behar, Raiganj amid tight security
Repolling has been ordered in 10 booths in Hooghly, 28 booths in West Midnapore, 52 booths in Coochbehar, 63 booths in Murshidabad, 60 booths in Nadia, 59 booths in North 24 Parganas, 55 booths in Malda, 73 booths in Uttar Dinajpur and 26 in South 24 Pargans among others.
09:33 (IST)
Voting underway in Jalpaiguri's Shikarpur amid tight security
09:24 (IST)
Jhargram only district to have no repolling
Re-election is being held in 19 of the 20 West Bengal districts for the Panchayati Raj institutions that went to the polls on 14 May. Jhargram is the only district where there would be no repolling.
08:58 (IST)
Visuals of voters queuing up in Bagdah in North 24 Parganas district
08:07 (IST)
Repolling was ordered after several candidates met SEC officials
Aggrieved by the violence that marked Monday's panchayat polls in West Bengal, several candidates who were in the fray had met the State Election Commission (SEC) officials and demanded repolling in their booths on Tuesday.
“I have come here to inform the SEC about yesterday’s violence in my locality. Free and fair election did not take place in my area,” Etajul, an independent candidate from Bhangore in South 24 Parganas district, had told PTI.
The SEC ordered the re-election following the demand for it.
08:01 (IST)
MHA has sought report from West Bengal govt over poll violence
Violence was reported in a number of places during panchayat polls which was held on 14 May. In the wake of violence that left at least 10 dead, the Central government sought a report from the West Bengal government.
"Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from the West Bengal government in view of the violence during panchayat elections," a senior Home Ministry official said. However, Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha said that the death toll and violence was "far lesser than in the past".
IANS
07:46 (IST)
07:41 (IST)
PM's comments outbursts of frustration: TMC
07:21 (IST)
West Bengal poll violence 'murder of democracy', says Narendra Modi
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked the Mamata Banerjee government over violence in the panchayat polls in West Bengal, the state's ruling Trinamool Congress called it "outbursts of frustration".
"People weren't allowed to file nominations. People from all parties except one ruling the state have suffered. Workers of these parties were killed. This is serious. A land as great as West Bengal had to see such things. It is unfortunate," Modi said.
He was addressing workers at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s central office in the national capital after the party emerged as the single-largest party in the Karnataka Assembly polls. "Where is the spirit of democracy?" Modi asked.