TMC leading with over 18,000 seats

According to the latest declarations by the West Bengal State Election Commission, the TMC is leading in 18,332 gram panchayat seats. Its nearest rival BJP is leading in 4,592 seats out of 63,329 seats as of 5:30 pm yesterday. CPI(M) is leading in 1,894 seats. The Congress in 1,142 seats.

Other parties which included the newly formed ISF are leading in 1,721 seats, while independents which included TMC rebels won 718 seats and led in 216 seats.

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Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat polls to nearly 74,000 seats which besides the gram panchayat seats, also includes 9,730 panchayat samiti seats and 928 zilla parishad seats, began at 8:00 am yesterday peacefully amid tight security, officials said.

There are around 339 counting venues spread across 22 districts. The maximum number of counting centres is in South 24 Parganas at 28, while the minimum is in Kalimpong at four. Some northern districts are also facing inclement weather.

"Counting began at 8:00 am and is likely continue for the next two days. It will take time for the ballots to be counted and the results to be compiled," an SEC official said.

In Darjeeling hills, out of the 598 seats in Darjeeling and 281 in Kalimpong, the BGPM was leading in 21, whereas the BJP was head in one, and the independents were leading in four.

All the counting venues are manned by armed state police personnel and central forces, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC being imposed outside the venue to avoid any untoward incidents. There are a total of 767 strong rooms across 22 districts.