LIVE BLOG: Bengal’s Verdict for Municipal Election 2015

LIVE BLOG: Bengal’s Verdict for Municipal Election 2015

Posted on April 28, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Counting of votes for the municipal polls held across 90 municipalities and 2 corporations in West Bengal are in progress.

On April 18, election for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation was held. 68% voters exercised their franchise on that day.

On April 25, braving the rains and earthquake, 62% of the electorate cast their votes at 91 municipalities in the State.

Follow our Live Blog as we bring you minute to minute update about the results of the municipal polls from across West Bengal:

1:58 PM: Trinamool wins Uttarpara municipality in Hooghly district.

1:10 PM: Mamata Banerjee addresses the press, dedicates the victory to people of Bengal.

12:50 PM: Trinamool wins Serampore municipality in Hooghly district.

12:04 PM: Latest trends 91/91 – TMC leads in 75 municipalities.

12:02 PM: Latest trends in Kolkata: 144/144 – TMC leads in 115 wards.

12:01 PM: Trinamool leads in North Dumdum municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:55 AM: Trinamool wins Gobardanga municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:55 AM: Trinamool wins South Dumdum municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:54 AM: Trinamool wins Khardah municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:42 AM: Trinamool leads in Titagarh, Barrackpore & North Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas.

11:40 AM: Trinamool wins Rajpur-Sonarpur municipality in South 24 Parganas district

11:38 AM: Trinamool wins Bhatpara municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:35 AM: Trinamool wins New Barrackpore municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:34 AM: Trinamool wins Ashokenagar-Kalyangarh municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:32 AM: Trinamool wins Barasat municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:31 AM: Trinamool wins Dumdum municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

11:30 AM: Trinamool wins Birnagar municipality in Nadia district.

11:29 AM: Trinamool wins Dankuni municipality in Hooghly district.

11:26 AM: Uluberia – Leads 32/32 – TMC leading in 17 wards.

11:25 AM: Trinamool wins Maheshtala municipality in South 24 Parganas district.

11:21 AM: Trinamool wins Chinsurah municipality in Hooghly district.

11:16 AM: Trinamool wins Chandannagar municipality in Hooghly district.

11:15 AM: Uluberia – Leads 8/32 – TMC leading in 5 wards.

11:07 AM: Siliguri Leads: 28/47 – TMC leads in 12 wards.

11:06 AM: Trinamool leads in 11/22 wards in Bhadreswar municipality in Hooghly district.

11:01 AM: Trinamool leads in 13/22 wards in Chanpdani municipality in Hooghly district.

10:59 AM: Trinamool wins Kharar municipality in West Midnapore district.

10:57 AM: Trinamool wins Kalna municipality in Bardhaman district & Banshberiya in Hooghly.

10:54 AM: Trinamool WINS Baranagar municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

10:53 AM: Trinamool WINS Bankura municipality in Bankura district.

10: 50 AM: Trinamool leads in Englishbazar municipality in Maldah district.

10:45 AM: Trinamool WINS all 15 wards in Tarakeshwar municipality in Hooghly district.

10:43 AM: Trinamool WINS Bolpur municipality in Birbhum district.

10:43 AM: Trinamool WINS Ranaghat municipality in Nadia district.

10:41 AM: Kolkata Leads: 144/144 – TMC leads in 111 wards.

10:37 AM: Trinamool WINS Kalyani municipality in Nadia district.

10:34 AM: Siliguri Leads: 24/47 – TMC leads in 9 wards.

10:32 AM: Trinamool WINS Baduria municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

10:27 AM: Trinamool WINS Shantipur municipality in Nadia district.

10:29 AM: Trinamool WINS Basirhat & Naihati municipalities in North 24 Parganas district.

10:27 AM: Trinamool WINS Haringhata municipality in Nadia district.

10:23 AM: Trinamool WINS Bishnupur municipality in Bankura district.

10:21 AM: Trinamool WINS Sonamukhi municipality in Bankura district.

10: 18 AM: Trinamool leads in Old Maldah municipality in Maldah district.

10:17 AM: Kolkata‬ Leads: 142/144 – TMC leads in 111 wards.

10:14 AM: Trinamool WINS Titagarh municipality in North 24 Parganas district.

10:12 AM: Trinamool WINS Memari municipality in Bardhaman district.

10: 11 AM: Trinamool WINS Suri municipality in Birbhum district and Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas.

10:04 AM: Trinamool WINS Sainthiya municipality in Birbhum district.

10:00 AM: Trinamool WINS Rishra, Konnagar, Baidyabati municipalities in Hooghly district.

9:58 AM: Trinamool leading in all 23 wards of Nabadwip municipality.

9:53 AM: Kolkata‬ Leads: 135/144 – TMC leads in 105 wards.

9:51 AM: TMC WINS 10 wards in Coochbehar municipality.

9:45 AM: TMC WINS Jalpaiguri municipality in Jalpaiguri dist & Halisahar in North 24 Parganas.

9:43 AM: Kolkata: Leads in 126/144 wards: Trinamool leads in 102 wards.

9:42 AM: Trinamool leads in 9 wards in Siliguri.

9:40 AM: Trinamool leads in Bongaon (North 24 Parganas) & Budge Budge (South 24 Parganas).

9:38 AM: Mayor of ‪ Kolkata‬ Sovan Chatterjee wins from Ward No. 131.

9:37 AM: Trinamool WINS Khirpai municipality in West Midnapore district.

9:36 AM: Trinamool WINS Chandrakona municipality in West Midnapore district.

9:35 AM: Trinamool WINS Ghatal (Purulia) and Tamluk in East Midnapore district.

9: 31 AM: Chandrakona: 10/12 wards – Trinamool leads in 9 wards.

9:28 AM: Bolpur: 8/20 wards – Trinamool leads in 7 wards.

9:27 AM: Kolkata: Leads in 126/144 wards – Trinamool leads in 102 wards.

9:25 AM: Trinamool leads in Purulia, Raghunathpur, Trakeshwar, Madhyamgram.

9:22 AM: Egra: 10/14 wards – Trinamool leads in 8 wards.

9:15 AM: Trinamool leads in 7 wards in Suri.

9:13 AM: Trinamool leads in 8 out of 9 declared wards in Kanchrapara.

9:11 AM: Trinamool WINS Kanthi and Tamluk municipality in East Midnapore district.

9:10 AM: Trinamool WINS Baruipur municipality in South 24 Parganas district.

9:08 AM: Kolkata Municipal Corporation: 104/144 – TMC leading in 80 wards.

9:06 AM: Trinamool WINS Malbazar municipality in Jalpaiguri district.

9:05 AM: Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee leading in Ward No. 131.

9:03 AM: Trinamool WINS Tufanganj municipality in Coochbehar district.

9:02 AM: Trinamool leading in 6 out of 8 declared wards in Garulia.

9:01 AM: Trinamool leading in 50 out of 68 declared wards in #Kolkata.

9 AM: Trinamool wins 4 wards in Baruipur

8:57 AM: Trinamool leading in 6 out of 7 declared wards in Mathabhanga.

8:54 AM: Trinamool leading in 8 out of 18 wards in Gangarampur.

8:52 AM: Trinamool leading in 7 out of 12 wards in Tufanganj.

8:47 AM: Trinamool leading in 9 wards in Tamluk.

8:46 AM: Early trends suggest TMC sweeping municipal polls, leading in 18/22 wards in Kolkata & 69/84 municipalities.

8:32 AM : Trinamool leading in 34 wards in Barasat.

8:30 AM : Trinamool wins 2 wards in Malbazar municipality.

8:26 AM: Trinamool leading in 10 wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

8:21 AM: Trinamool leading in 6 wards in Nabadwip and 5 wards in Shantipur.

8.17 AM: Trinamool Congress leading in 9 wards in Kolkata.

8.15 AM: Trinamool Congress has won uncontested in the three municipalities at Arambagh, Gayeshpur and Tarakeshwar. Trinamool Congress won in the majority of the wards of the three municipalities after the opposition withdrew nomination in 47 of 52 wards – 16 of 19 in Arambagh, 14 of 15 in Tarakeswar and 17 of 18 in Gayeshpur, thus maintaining majority in all these three municipalities.

8 AM: Counting begins

Elections are a festival of democracy: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on April 24, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister today met the press at Nabanna. She took questions from the media on a range of topics:

On corporation election

Democracy has returned to Bengal after 34 years. The corporation election this year was the most peaceful in recent times. I extended thanks to all after corporation elections. Not just my party.

We do not want anyone to take law into their own hands. We want peaceful polls. I appeal to people to cast their votes freely tomorrow. I love people. It is my duty to work for them. It is my responsibility.

Administration will perform their duties as per law. Elections are a festival of democracy. People are God in democracy. No one has any right to insult people to satisfy their ego.

On smear campaign by media

Some media houses are spinning false stories to mislead people. They are trying to influence them. They must prove their allegations against Trinamool. They are trying to incite and provoke. They are spreading falsehoods.

Some people are using shortcut methods of appearing in media. What history of serving people do they have? One can get temporary publicity through shortcut methods. There will be no long term result out of that.

Results of municipal polls

Whatever the results will be, let us wait till EVMs are opened. Let us not speculate beforehand. I have full faith in people. They have the final say in a democracy.

We hope people will shower us with their blessings based on the work we have done in the last few years. Even in Bongaon and Krishnaganj we increased our margins.

Centre is taking away all our funds. Despite all odds we have performed well for the sake of people.

Problems faced by potato farmers

We have taken several initiatives for the potato farmers. We have written to Centre to waive their loans. Ours is the only government that meets every fortnight with the task force on agriculture to keep a check on prices. When potato prices were touching Rs 60 in other states, we sold them at Rs 14/kg.

Land acquisition

Land is an asset. Enough farmlands have been acquired. We must conserve land for agriculture for food security. We must support our farmers. They also have plans for their families. They have hopes and aspirations.

Trinamool cannot be intimidated with CBI: Abhishek Banerjee at Purulia

Posted on April 22, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress party colours were the only thing that eyes could find on the day Trinamool Youth Congress President Abhishek Banerjee took to stage at the Purulia town, near the Taxi stand whicle campaigning for the Municipal Polls.

Thousands of people listened to the mesmerizing speech of the ‘Young Turk’, an MP and one of the most enigmatic youth leaders of the country.

In his fiery speech, Abhishek Banerjee urged the people to vote in such a manner that there should not be any opposition and asked the people to bless Trinamool Congress by winning 23 out of the 23 seats. He reiterated that the West Bengal Government led by Ms Mamata Banerjee has done much more work for the State in comparison to what the BJP Government in the Centre has done in one year. He raised the question whether the BJP can give information of 5% of the work they claim to have done.

Abhishek Banerjee said that BJP should first earn their victory over Congress or CPM before trying to change Ms Mamata Banerjee. He said that Mamata Banerjee is not afraid of CBI, ED, Income Tax Dept and such other bodies which are being used to suppress her voice. He said that the name of Mamata Banerjee is synonymous to the word revolution. There is no power that can topple the Government led by Ms Mamata Banerjee. Trinamool was victorious in spite of the Saradah issue in the Panchayat polls and the General Election 2014. Trinamool was not affected. The same results will be evident in the forthcoming Municipal Elections as well as the 2016 Assembly polls, Abhishek Banerjee said.

Abhishek Banerjee pointed out the present PM, who used a car worth Rs 10 lakh, now uses a a car worth Rs six crore, wears suits worth Rs 15 lakh. In comparison, Ms Mamata Banerjee still stays in a modest house which has tiles for roof. He lashed upon the Left Front saying that the Left leaders should keep their mouth shut on the issue of crime against women as it was during the Left rule in Bengal when Tapasi Malik was murdered and incidents like Dhantala and Bantala happened.

The Trinamool Youth Congress President said that those who are spreading slanders through television talk shows should realize that more the criticisms are, more there will be blessings for Ms Mamata Banerjee. He said that those who are spreading canards are forgetting that this is not Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh or Jharkhand. This is the holy land of Nazrul and Rabindranath Tagore.

On this day, Abhishek Banerjee addressed another campaign meeting a t Jhalda. In the evening a road show was organized from Raghunathpur New Bus Stand, covering the Ward Nos 4, 5 and 8 and concluding at the Netaji Sangha ground. MP Derek O’Brien and Indranil Sen were accompanying him in Purulia.

Vote for Trinamool, Vote for Mamata: Abhishek Banerjee in Bardhaman

Posted on April 21, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

“Vote for Mamata!” was MP and president of Trinamool Youth Congress, Abhishek Banerjee’s rallying cry at the public meeting for the municipal election in Memari, in Bardhaman district, on Monday. Earlier in the evening, in Kalna (also in Bardhaman district), on the occasion of another municipal election-campaign meeting, Abhishek Banerjee underscored the Trinamool Chairperson’s championing role in the party, saying, “Those who have stood as candidates for the party, are all Mamata Banerjees.”

Monday saw another round of mammoth campaign rallies in Kalna and Memari. Senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Derek O’Brien and another leader, noted singer Indranil Sen had also joined Abhishek Banerjee in urging the masses to vote to victory Trinamool Congress once again. And there was no doubt, seeing the huge crowds at both the places.

Derek O’Brien backed Abhishek by saying, “You don’t need to worry about who has been chosen, or not chosen, as a candidate. Press the twin flowers-labelled button and your vote will reach Kalighat straight.”

To allegations of poll-related violence, Abhishek Banerjee emphatically responded, “The opposition is making false accusations about poll-centric violence during the Kolkata corporation elections. Let them prove even one such incident.” The CPI(M), the Congress and the BJP have not managed to do even 5 per cent of the developmental work done by Trinamool, he added.

Trinamool campaigns to the beats of dhamsa-madol

Posted on April 20, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

April 19 was the last Sunday before elections to the municipalities in the district of South 24-Parganas takes place. On April 25, 23 municipalities (comprising 587 wards) of the district are going for polls. And being the last holiday, the campaigning was at the highest pitch, and the most cheerful. Traditional culture formed an integral part of the campaigning.

Dancers and musicians thronged the venues and streets, doing their best to literally drum up support for candidates; traditional percussion instruments like dhamsa and madal were used to the fullest. Women in traditional dance costumes added a dash of colour and extravaganza. Also, candidates and party workers took out processions in autos and totos (a new addition this time), with party flags stuck on them. Of course, there were also the door-to-door campaigns.

Campaigning with dhamsa-madol in North 24 Parganas

Among the parties, Trinamool was easily the most visible one. Its senior leaders spread out in all the municipalities, ensuring no stones were left unturned. On Sunday evening, Trinamool MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien took part in road shows in 23 wards of Ashoknagar Kalyangarh municipality in support of candidates.

Abhishek Banerjee at Ashoknagar

Another MP, Kakali Ghosh Dastidar was also there in some of the municipalities. The same went for state cabinet minister, Jyotipriya Mallick and Dr Shashi Panja, the latter having campaigned in Madhyamgram.

Road show by Ghatal MP, Dev

Senior MP Saugata Roy and cabinet minister, and noted theatre actor, Bratya Basu campaigned for the Trinamool candidate of ward number 12 of South Dum Dum Municipality. In the evening, massive cheerful processions were taken out in all wards of all the municipalities. Thus ended a successful day of campaigning.

Suvendu Adhikari in Egra

Trinamool Congress raises demand to extend polling time to 5 PM for municipal elections

Posted on March 26, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

A delegation team of Trinamool Congress met the State Election Commission regarding the forthcoming Municipal Election. Senior leader Subrata Mukherjee addressed the press after the meeting.

Trinamool Congress raised the demand to extend the polling time from 3 PM to till 5 PM.

Subrata Mukherjee said, “This issue is related to the right of the people to vote.”

Trinamool announces the candidate list for Kolkata Municipal Corporation Election 2015

Posted on March 8, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress today announced the candidate list for the forthcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation Election 2015.

There are 144 wards in the Kolkata Corporation. Out of the 144 candidates, there are 66 women candidates and 20 candidates belonging to minority communities. Sovan Chatterjee is the Mayoral candidate for Trinamool.

List of AITC Candidates for KMC Polls 2015