CPI-M gains ground in former stronghold Durgapur before civic polls

KOLKATA: Bengal CPI-M, which has regained some ground in recent elections, has managed to thwart victory of the ruling Trinamool Congress in the elections to the Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) workers union held on Tuesday.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions, CPI-M's trade union arm, has won the elections by securing 3,642 of the total 9,129 votes, compared with 3,281 by the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress. Defeat of the ruling party's union at the Asansol-Durgapur trade union belt in West Bengal's Burdwan district will undoubtedly embolden the opposition before the October 3 civic elections. Asansol Municipal Corporation will also go to polls on October 3 and the CPI-M is already highlighting its victory at the DSP elections to garner support in the AMC polls.

“This victory also reflects that working class people are still with us and have no faith on the ruling Trinamool Congress. Results of this elections will certainly help us fighting the AMC polls,” Burdwan district CITU leader Benoy Krishna Chakraborty told ET on Thursday.

Trinamool Congress is, however, not ready to attach much importance to the DSP election results. “The CPI-M has lost its relevance in Bengal. They are not in a position to win any major polls in the state and will also not be able to win the AMC elections on October 3,” said Trinamool Congress MLA and trade unionist Sobhandev Chattopadhaya. “Naturally, they are happy with the DSP election results. Let them be happy with their victory at the steel plant and we will be happy after the AMC poll results are out because we will win the election.”