Mamata set to oust Left in Bengal; Jaya wave in TN
Mamata set to oust Left in Bengal; Jaya wave in TN
New Delhi: Heading for a landslide victory, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress on Friday is all set to end the 34-year reign of the Left in West Bengal while Jayalalithaa swept back to power in Tamil Nadu and Congress was headed for a record third term in Assam.
In Kerala, it was a photo-finish with a slight edge for the Congress-led UDF that may knock-out the CPI(M)-led LDF from power in yet another state. In Puducherry, the Congress appears to have an edge over the rival alliance led by Rangaswamy Congress.
Also Read | Assembly polls 2011 ( Full coverage )
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa is set to become Chief Minister for the third time in Tamil Nadu trouncing DMK in the keenly-contested elections in which the 2G scam was a major issue.
Contrary to predictions of a close fight, the Congress looks set for a comfortable victory in Assam gaining majority on its own, unlike last time when it was short of the half-way mark.
The party is leading in 75 out of the 126 seats while main opposition AGP is leading only in nine seats. AIDUF was leading in 14 seats.
Kerala was set for a needle-finish with a slight edge for Congress-led for UDF which is leading in 72 out of the 140 seats. The LDF was ahead in 68.
In the 30-member assembly in Puducherry, Congress-led alliance was ahead in 13 seats while N Rangaswamy Congress-led combine was leading in 10.
Jubilation before Mamata’s house, gloom at CPM HQ
Trinamool Congress workers and supporters sang, danced and smeared each other with green gulal to the shouts of the ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’ slogan coined by the TC supremo and waved party flags before Banerjee’s Harish Chatterjee Street residence.
Sweets were handed out and conches were blown as the area wore a festive look.
Securitymen had a tough time, but there was no disorderliness.
Many women party supporters were seen wearing saris printed with the party’s symbol ‘Jora ghasphool’ (grass and flowers).
This picture of jubilation was witnessed earlier in 2009 when the Trinamool Congress won 19 Lok Sabha seats.
Hordes of mediapersons from abroad were here to cover the historic win of the Trinamool Congress which fought the Assembly elections in alliance with the Congress.
The scene was in total contrast at Alimuddin Street, the CPI(M) party headquarters, as trends indicated a debacle for the Left Front after 34 years of uninterrupted rule.
CPI(M) sources said that the chief minister was with party leaders at the party headquarters.
Left Front chairman and CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose had yesterday asserted that the Front would secure nearly 200 of the 294 seats.
The Left Front would meet at 4:30 pm to review the election results.
The CPI(M) sources did not comment on the trends and said that most ministers were in the districts.
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