Trinamool discontent across the state on civic polls candidates’ list

Local leaders of the Trinamool Congress on Monday held rallies and roadblocks in various parts of the state to protest the candidate list of the party for the upcoming municipal polls that excluded some of them.

The party has released its candidates’ list for elections in 108 municipalities on February 27. On Monday, in North 24 Parganas district, many Trinamool supporters and former councillors blocked roads. Protests and roadblocks were held in Kamarhati where an elected councillor has not been given ticket to contest this time. Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra has openly slammed MP Sougata Roy though he did not name him. There are talks that some leaders close to Mitra have been denied tickets. Roadblocks were also held in Khardah’s Gobardanga, on BT Road. There is discontent also in Baidyabati, Serampore. In Barrackpore, two candidates have been campaigning for the same ward as Trinamool candidate.

The discontent has been brewing for the past few days. State fisheries minister Akhil Giri had already expressed unhappiness on the list for East Midnapore district as his supporters held protests outside his Contai residence. “Those who are still with the BJP have been nominated as Trinamool candidates. We are unhappy with the candidates list,” Giri said.

There were agitations also in Hooghly district, Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, Bankura and Purulia.

On Friday, Trinamool general secretary Partha Chatterjee had said that those who have not been nominated should not openly voice their discontent. In a TV interview on Sunday, Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had said that the trouble over the list is being reviewed by the party and will be sorted out soon.