The writing on the wall seemed to appear distinct and clear weeks before the ensuing municipal elections could be held in Bengal with the ruling outfit Trinamool Congress winning at least three municipalities unopposed amid opposition complaints of “threat, violence and prevalent atmosphere of cold horror even worse than what it was during the left rule.”
The Trinamool has won three municipalities — Arambagh, Tarakeshwar in Hooghly and Gayeshpur in Nadia district — unopposed, State Election Commission sources said. This whereas the opposition left, BJP and Congress cried out against sustained threats issued by the ruling party goons “forcing our candidates to withdraw their candidature.”
The CPI(M), BJP and the Congress were forced to withdraw nomination from Gayeshpur even as left sources said they were in the process of deciding whether similar steps would be taken at Bhatpara and Bansberia where the party men were being attacked and threatened every day.
Civic elections — considered as a semi-final ahead of the next year’s State polls — to 92 municipalities and corporations including Kolkata and Siliguri would be held on April 18 and 25.