The counting of votes for the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad elections in West Bengal is going on from 8 am on Tuesday.
The picture has become clear in many seats of Gram Panchayat, in which TMC is moving towards a one-sided victory.
According to the data of the State Election Commission till 9.30 pm, TMC is leading in 34972 gram panchayat seats. BJP is leading in 3421 seats out of 63329 seats. At the same time, CPI (M) is leading on 1392 seats and Congress is leading on 829 seats.
Other parties, including the newly formed ISF, are leading in 1,362 seats. While independents including TMC rebels have won 718 seats and are ahead in 216 seats. The figures related to the seats of Panchayat Samiti have also started coming out.
Till now TMC has won 265 seats and is ahead in 83 seats. An SEC official said, “The counting of votes began at 8 am and is likely to continue for the next two days. Counting of ballots and results will take time.
Officials said that votes are being counted on about 74,000 seats for the three-tier panchayat elections. It also includes 9730 Panchayat Samiti seats and 928 Zilla Parishad seats. Around 339 counting centers have been set up in 22 districts.
South 24 Parganas has the maximum number of counting centers at 28 while Kalimpong has the minimum number of counting centers at 4.
According to the Election Commission, out of 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 seats in Kalimpong in Darjeeling Hills, BGPM is leading in 21, while BJP is ahead in one seat.
Independent candidates are also leading in four seats. Armed state police personnel and central forces are deployed at all counting places.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have been imposed outside the counting venue to avoid any untoward incident. A total of 767 strong rooms have been set up in 22 districts.
As soon as the initial trends started coming in, the war of words started between TMC and BJP. The BJP has accused the ruling party of making last-ditch efforts to steal votes by preventing opposition agents from entering the counting centres.
Leader of the Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari said, “TMC goons are making a desperate attempt to steal the election by preventing counting agents and candidates of BJP and other opposition political parties from entering the counting centres. Bombs are being hurled to scare the counting agents.”
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “Feeling defeat, they are making baseless allegations. Rejected by the people and feeling a humiliating defeat, the BJP blames itself for its organizational failures,making excuses.”
Earlier on Saturday, there was violence in the rural elections of West Bengal. In this, 15 people were killed, while the ballot box was broken.
Ballot papers were set on fire. Bombs were also thrown at many places. The total death toll in the state has crossed 30 since the election process began on June 8 and the dates were announced.
80.71 percent voting was recorded on Saturday. While 69.85 percent votes were recorded till 5 pm in 696 booths across West Bengal.
Re-polling was held in some places on Monday. A total of 5.67 crore people living in rural areas of the state were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates for 73,887 seats in the panchayat system.
