Ahead of Assembly Elections, TMC Sweeps Cooperative Polls in Nandigram, Deals BJP a Setback

Kolkata: In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has scored a clean sweep in the cooperative society elections in Nandigram, dealing a setback to the BJP.

The elections were held under the Amadabad Gram Panchayat, specifically for the Amadabad Sahayak Krishi Unnayan Samiti Limited. TMC secured victory in all 12 seats, leaving both BJP and the Left Front trailing. This win is particularly noteworthy as Nandigram is the home turf of BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. In the 2021 assembly elections, Adhikari had famously defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from this very region.

From CPI(M) Stronghold to TMC Dominance

Historically, the cooperative society was considered a stronghold of the CPI(M), but elections had not been held here for several years. Since the 2011 change of government in West Bengal, TMC has been steadily consolidating its presence in the region. The Sunday election saw stiff competition among TMC, BJP, and Left Front candidates, and strict security measures were implemented during polling.

TMC Claims Boost in Local Support

Results were announced in the late evening, with TMC leaders hailing the outcome as evidence of the party’s growing support in Purba Medinipur. Arunbh Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the TMC Tamaluk organizational district, noted that the party’s clean sweep in a closely contested election signals a shift in local political sentiment ahead of the assembly polls. He asserted that the results indicate BJP is losing its grip in areas it once considered strongholds.

BJP Cautions Against Reading Too Much Into It

However, BJP has downplayed TMC’s interpretation of the results. A senior district official stated that the party has historically performed poorly in other cooperative societies across Nandigram and argued that the outcome of a single society cannot reflect the broader political mood ahead of the assembly elections. According to BJP, the real picture will only emerge during the state polls.