WB bypolls: TC-Cong combine bags 5 seats, leading in 3 others

KOLKATA: The CPI(M) led ruling Left Front in West Bengal appeared heading for another poll debacle after the Lok Sabha elections with the Trinamool Congress-Congress combine winning five of the 10 seats where by-elections were held last Saturday.

The combine was ahead of their Left rivals in three other constituencies, according to reports available from different counting centres.

The Left Front, which had fielded candidates in all the 10 seats, was leading in only Goalpokhar constituency.

In Kalchini constituency in Jalpaiguri district, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supported Independent Wilson Champamari wrested the seat from RSP, defeating Binoy Bhushan Karket by over 6,000 votes.

TC candidates won Alipore, Bongaon, Serampore and Rajganj seats, the last being wrested from the CPI-M, while Congress retained Sujapur seat.

CPI-M was trailing behind Trinamool candidate in the prestigious Belgachia East seat by over 10,000 votes after the fourth round of counting.

The seat had fallen vacant following the death of CPI(M) stalwart and former transport minister Subash Chakraborty, who had won from the seat for seven consecutive terms. The CPI(M) had fielded his widow Ramala Chakraborty from the seat.