Set back for the Left Front in the Local body elections in the West Bengal

The ruling left front, which swept the Zilla Parishad elections in West Bengal, suffered a set back in both Nandigram and Singur.

The left front won 13 out of the 17 local bodies but to failed to retain control in three.The Congress and the Trinamul Congress along with its allies won in two each.

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

Nandigram and  Singur have been in the spotlight following unrest in the wake of the movement by the Trinamul led opposition against acquisition of farm land for setting up Industries.The Chief Minister’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 districts too and the Trinamul rested 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 Hoogly.

The left front also wrested Murshidabad from the Congress, considered as the latter’s stronghold.

The left front also lost majority in the zilla Parikshad in the South 24 Parganas District, where the CPI(M) clashed with its own ally RSP on the poll day.The Trinamul along with its allies emerged victorious in the district.

The Congress wrested  the Zilla Parikshad in North Dinajpur from the left front..Congress also retained  its sway over the civic body in Malda District, despite the stiff fight put up by the left front.

The Left Front registered thumping majorities in the Zilla Parikshads in Bankura,Burdwan Jalpaiguri, Birbhum,Purulia, Cooch Bihar and South Dinajpur.It also retained control of the zilla parikshads  in Nadia, Paschim Medinipur, in Howrah as well as North 24 parganas though Trinamul has made some substantial gains there.

Trinamul Congress which was in low spirits after the political wash out in the 2006 elections, got a fillip now through substantial gains at least in some pockets of West Bengal.The same is the story with Congress I.

However, the majority of the zilla parikshads in as many as 13 are with the Left Front and their hold remains unassailable, despite of losing some prestigious strongholds.

But it should also be noted that due to some cracks that developed in the left front, for the first time the left front had started losing some zilla parikshads in the West Bengal.