Poll results show rise of Independents to 3rd position

The Independent candidates have bagged 1,335 seats in Gram Panchayat, which is more than the number of seats bagged by CPI-M and Congress so far.

Most of these Independent candidates are rebel Trinamool Congress leaders. At the time of distribution of party tickets before the election, party supremo Mamata Banerjee had said that it would not be possible to give tickets to all the party workers and that those who will fail to get tickets, will be used by the party in some other capacity.

However, the leaders could not hold their patience and contested the poll as Independent candidates. Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee has already announced that those who have filed nomination as Independent candidates flouting the party's diktats, will be thrown out of the party.

The rebel Trinamool Congress candidates were backed by CPI-M and BJP wholeheartedly. They had helped the candidates with money and muscle power. Many areas saw clashes between Trinamool Congress workers and Independent candidates.

BJP and CPI-M had also filed their candidates without party symbol as Independent candidates, just to establish their control over the Gram Panchayats, which is the lowest tier of the three-tier Panchayat system.

After the election results, many Independent candidates who are rebel Trinamool Congress leaders and BJP workers, have contacted Trinamool Congress, expressing their willingness to join the party.