Bypolls: In Bengal, Trinamool Looks Set To Wrest Two Seats From BJP
NDTV
The elections in Dinhata and Santipur were seen as a prestige battle for the BJP, which is currently grappling with an exodus of MLAs and senior leaders.
The winning streak of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee looks set to continue through the by-polls, where her Trinamool Congress is on track to wrest two seats won by the BJP in the April-May state polls. The party is ahead in all four seats where by-elections were held.
"This (WB by-poll result) was expected, we fought well, we're winning comfortably. The more BJP goes back, the better it is for democracy. People upset with their govt... Our party gave directions that there shouldn't be any post-poll violence. Nothing will happen," senior Trinamool leader Saugata Roy was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.The elections in Dinhata and Santipur were seen as a prestige battle for the BJP, which is currently grappling with an exodus of MLAs and senior leaders.
Elections to Dinhata seat -- part of north Bengal's Cooch Behar, seen as a BJP stronghold -- became necessary as the BJP's Nisith Pramanik resigned after he took over as the junior home minister at the Centre.
The Trinamool is also leading in Santipur, which became vacant after BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar resigned from the assembly.
