Trinamool wins Nandigram bypoll

NANDIGRAM: Trinamool Congress has won the Nandigram assembly bye-election with its candidate Firoza Bibi defeating CPI nominee Paramananda Bharati in a multi-cornered contest.

Bibi, who received 39,551 votes, dedicated her win to those killed in nearly a year-long fight allegedly with CPI(M) cadres over the land issue.

Bibi is an activist of Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee that forced the state government to shelve its plan to acquire farmland for industrial purpose last year.

The byelection was necessitated after CPI MLA Mohammad Illyas resigned following a sting operation exposing his corrupt deals.

More than 80 per cent electorate exercised their franchise in the bypoll held on January 5.