In a tweet, the Trinamool chief said, “Heartiest congratulations to all candidates for your victory in the KMC elections. Remember to serve people with utmost diligence and gratitude! I wholeheartedly thank every single resident of KMC for putting their faith in us, once again.”
As the Trinamool Congress took a massive lead during counting of votes in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections, party supremo Mamata Banerjee hailed it as a “landslide victory” and thanked the people of Kolkata for believing in the ruling dispensation.
Mamata Banerjee also remarked that the BJP, Left Front and the Congress were “left nowhere” in the civic body polls, that were marred by the hurling of bombs, charges of rigging and sporadic violence.
“This election is a victory of democracy, it has sent a clear message that people have accepted our work. BJP, Congress and CPI(M) have been defeated by people, that is the mandate,” the West Bengal chief minister said.
Mamata Banerjee also proclaimed the TMC’s performance in the KMC polls as a “victory for national politics”, adding that Kolkata is the safest city in the country.
“We will bow down in front of people. We will be more humble. Kolkata is our pride. Bengal and Kolkata will show the way,” she said.
Her nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee also rejoiced at the huge mandate given by the people of Kolkata and said the election results had shown the door to “politics of hate and violence”.
The ruling TMC looks set to retain power in KMC for the third consecutive term, with its candidates leading in 133 wards. Opposition parties the BJP, CPI(M) and the Congress were relegated to single digits. Celebrations have already begun among TMC cadres in Kolkata.
In the last KMC polls in 2015, TMC had won 124 seats, whereas the Left Front bagged 13. The BJP and the Congress had secured five and two seats, respectively.