West Bengal panchayat elections: Trinamool Congress takes early lead

  The Trinamool Congress (TMC) surged ahead in over 80 % seats in the panchayat polls in West Bengal which were conducted on May 14.

The initial trends also indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the primary Opposition leading in more seats than the Left Front, though the difference between the TMC and BJP remained huge.

In Nadia district of south Bengal which saw maximum violence during the polls, of the 2,691 gram panchayat seats which went to polls trends were available of 1987 seats of which TMC is leading is 1,857 seats, the BJP in 87 and Left Front in 15 seats.

Similarly in Malda district, out of 2,230 gram panchayat seats trends are available for 1,188 seats out of which the ruling TMC is 1,039, Congress in 93 seats, BJP in 33 and the Left front on 11 seats.

In Jhargram district, trends available for 633 out of 780 gram panachayat seats indicated that the TMC was leading in 581 seats, BJP in 39 and Left Front in 9 seats.

The trends for panchayat samiti and zilla parishads also indicated that the ruling party is ahead in more than 90% seats.

Over 20 people were killed in large scale violence that was reported during the polling on May 14.

Almost 34 % seats at gram panachayat and panchayat samiti has been won by TMC without any contest. The Opposition alleged that their candidates were not allowed to file nomination.