West Bengal Panchayat Election, 2023 Results:Top 10 Updates
The results of the West Bengal Panchayat Election 2023, which were eagerly awaited as a litmus test for both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are being announced today. Despite incidents of violence leading up to the elections, the counting of votes commenced at 8 am under the tight security of central forces and state police, with the inclusion of CCTV cameras at all counting centers. Top 10 updates on the West Bengal Panchayat Election results, 2023 are furnished below:
1. TMC's dominance: According to the State Election Commission (SEC) as of 10:30 pm on Tuesday, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has emerged victorious in the rural polls, securing an impressive 28,985 gram panchayat seats and holding a lead in an additional 1,540 seats. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 7,764 seats and is currently leading in 417 seats. It is important to note that these elections involved a total of 63,229 gram panchayat seats.
2. Performance of other parties: The Left Front has secured 2,468 seats, with the CPI(M) alone winning 2,409. The Left Front is presently in the lead in 260 seats, while the Congress has emerged victorious in 2,022 seats and is leading in 139 seats. As for other parties, they have secured 725 seats and are leading in 23 seats. Additionally, independents, including TMC rebels, have won 1,656 seats and are leading in 104 seats.
3. Re-polling: Following incidents of violence and booth capturing during the July 8 voting, the State Election Commission ordered re-polling in 696 booths across 19 districts of Bengal. The re-polling took place on Monday, with a voter turnout of 69.85% until 5 pm.
4. Violence and casualties: Tragically, four more individuals lost their lives on Monday, bringing the total toll of political violence to 42 since the announcement of the three-tier local body polls on June 8. The panchayat elections were marred by allegations of vote tampering, prompting the SEC, headed by Rajiva Sinha, to order a re-poll in affected booths across all but three districts in Bengal.
5. BJP's criticism: The BJP has strongly criticized the Trinamool Congress government, accusing it of sponsoring the violence. The party (BJP) labeled the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as "ruthless" and alleged that the clashes have caused a minimum of 45 fatalities. In light of these accusations, the BJP has established a four-member fact-finding committee comprising MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, as well as MP Dr. Satyapal Singh, tasked with visiting the areas in West Bengal that have been impacted by the violence.
6. Assam's assistance: According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a total of 133 people from West Bengal have sought refuge in Assam as a result of the violence surrounding the panchayat elections. The Assam government has promptly extended support by offering them shelter in relief camps and ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid during periods of crisis.
7. Toll of violence: On July 8, at least 19 people were killed and dozens were injured amidst widespread allegations of booth capturing, rigging, ballot box looting, harassment of polling officials, and incidents of firing and bombings. The death toll on voting day alone stands at 17, which is seven more than the number of deaths recorded during the 2018 polling violence.
8. Re-polling under tight security: The re-polling on Monday commenced at 7 am with stringent security measures, including the deployment of at least four central forces personnel in each booth alongside state police. Voters who were in queues at 5 pm were allowed to cast their ballots, with election officers working overtime to ensure a smooth process.
9. Governor's assessment: On Tuesday morning, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose conducted a visit to the South 24 Parganas district, which included Bhangar and Canning, in order to evaluate and assess the prevailing situation. Previously, the governor had met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to apprise him of the recent violence in West Bengal.
10. TMC's uncontested victories: In 2018, the TMC won an uncontested 34% of the seats in the Panchayat elections. Similarly, this year, the ruling party secured numerous seats without contestation. The opposition parties have leveled accusations stating that TMC supporters obstructed several candidates from submitting their nominations.
The West Bengal Panchayat Election results have showcased the dominance of the Trinamool Congress, raising the stakes for both the ruling party and the opposition BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite incidents of violence and controversy surrounding the elections, the democratic process has been completed, providing a glimpse into the political landscape of the state.
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