Nandigram: Months ahead of assembly polls in Bengal, Trinamool on Sunday staged a major upset in leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s bastion in Nandigram-2 block, winning 27 seats in the 45-seat Ranichak Cooperative. This was the party’s second successive cooperative win in the block after sweeping the Ahmedabad Agriculture Development Society last Sunday, winning all 12 seats.In the Ranichak Cooperative polls, marked by intense rivalry, BJP managed to secure 18 seats. Significantly, among the 27 seats won by TMC, five were won uncontested. The election saw a turnout of 1,040 voters.The lead-up to the cooperative election was marked by violence. On Saturday night, clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters, leaving several injured. Trinamool claimed many of its workers had sustained serious injuries. A massive police force, including RAF personnel, was deployed. Announcement of results led to another round of violence. TMC workers allegedly attacked BJP supporters with sticks in front of the police. However, swift intervention by security forces brought the situation under control.“People have given a fitting reply to BJP’s hooliganism. Despite attacks on our candidates on Saturday night, the voters chose development. This is proof that Nandigram will wash Suvendu Adhikari away in assembly election,” said Robin Jana, Nandigram Block Trinamool Youth Congress president.BJP netas, on the other hand, accused TMC of using state machinery to intimidate voters. Adhikari alleged that TMC workers had also attacked women. “Our women resisted the goons. Four women were injured,” he said.Trinamool on Sunday also won a cooperative election in the adjacent Bhagwanpur assembly constituency, pocketing all 17 seats, seven of those uncontested.TMC seniors were quick to attribute the wins to the party’s free health camp — Sebaashray — which was recently rolled out in Nandigram by party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
