Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: Left retains dominance in panchayat polls

Left retains dominance in panchayat polls
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LOCALCORRESPONDENT on 21 May, 2008 10:43:00
 
The early indications from counting centres of the three-layer panchayat
elections in West Bengal, marred by violence that claimed 19 lives, indicate
that the Left would retain its dominance in the rural areas, a position it has
enjoyed since it came to power in 1977.
However, the Left suffered a setback in the Nandigram area in West Midnapore
district, and in to a lesser extent in South 24-Parganas district close to
Kolkata.
However, the state's largest and most prosperous district, Bardhaman, was
already in Left control. About 10 per cent of results were in by 11 am, and the
Left had won around five per cent seats uncontested in the state.