Photo : ANIKolkata: Counting of votes is presently underway for 108 municipalities across West Bengal that held elections at end of last week. On Tuesday, repoll had taken place in two booths the South Dum Dum and Serampore municipalities. Around 95.6 lakh voters had been eligible to exercise their franchise and decide the fate of 8,160 candidates.While the ruling Trinamool Congress is up against the BJP, CPIM-led Left Front and Congress, several TMC leaders are also fighting as independents after having failed to secure party tickets. Polling was not held in 103 wards as only one candidate each filed nomination, and they were declared uncontested winners. Nearly all of these wards were won by the TMC.Latest updates on West Bengal Municipal Poll results 2022:
- TMC takes early lead in Mekhliganj and Mathabhanga municipalities in Coochbehar district in North Bengal, and Raghunathpur Municipality in Purulia district
- Counting of votes begins at 8:00 am.
Background:The elections however were marred by sporadic incidents of violence, with Opposition parties alleging malpractice. Over the past few days, the Left has held protests in the state even as the BJP seeks a repoll for all seats. The Bengal BJP unit had called for a 12-hour bandh on Monday to protest against the alleged widespread rigging and attacks on opposition party members during the civic polls. The party also wrote to the State Election Commission demanding repolling in all booths across the 108 municipalities in the presence of Central forces. The letter further alleged massive rigging, booth capturing, threats, intimidation, including the use of firearms and explosives by persons of the AITC.Meanwhile, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar held a briefing with the state election commissioner on Monday. He had earlier told reporters that West Bengal was witnessing a “dance of brutality (tandav nritya)” and that as per inputs received by him, Sunday polls were “virtually a war”.Related NewsMamata Banerjee played game of ‘vote looting and terrorising’ to win Municipal election: BJP MLA – top developments