Trinamool establishes dominance in Haringhata and Kanchrapara, looks to take back Halisahar

Kolkata: Following closely on the heels of their counterparts from Halisahar, the Trinamool Congress councillors of Haringhata Municipality in Nadia who had gone to BJP, returned back to the party fold on Wednesday. The party has also regained its hold on the Kanchrapara Municipality, with the return of 9 councillors from the saffron party.

It may be recalled that eight Trinamool councillors of Halisahar Municipality have returned back to the party from BJP on Tuesday.

In the 17-member Haringhata Municipality, Trinamool Congress had 10 seats, with the saffron party having seven. The chairman of the municipality Rajib Dalal had resigned on June 28, following which vice-chairman Sanjiv Ram had been heading the municipality.

The election to pick the new chairman was held on Wednesday, where Trinamool Congress received 9 votes, with BJP getting 8. Manik Bhatta has become the new chairman.

Trinamool Congress has also reestablished its control on Kanchrapara Municipality on Wednesday, where the strength of the party has gone up to 14 in the 24-member board, with the return of 9 councillors, including the municipality chairman.

State Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim said: "BJP cannot establish its control over the municipalities by flexing muscles. The people of the state are with Trinamool Congress and they will continue to lend their support to Mamata Banerjee."

It may be recalled that the Trinamool councillors of Halishahar Municipality, who had joined BJP in Delhi, returned back to the party fold on Tuesday. In the 23-member board of the municipality, Trinamool Congress now has 12 members.

Meanwhile, Halisahar Municipality chairman Anshuman Roy went to the municipality on Wednesday with the Trinamool councillors, in a bid to take back the board, stating that Trinamool Congress now has a majority in the municipality.