Trinamul Congress strongman Arabul Islam suffered a jolt in his backyard of Bhangar on Tuesday when the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and Jomi, Jibika, Bastutontro O Poribesh Raksha Committee together bagged 23 of 24 seats in Polerhat 2 gram panchayat.
Arabul is a resident of Polerhat 2 gram panchayat and since 2006 when he won the Bhangar Assembly seat for first time, this patch in Bhangar 2 block has been his stronghold.
Bhangar, located around 30km east of Calcutta, was the epicentre of violence that convulsed rural Bengal in the run up to the July 8 panchayat elections.
Trinamul could bag only one seat in the Polerhat 2 panchayat, which had witnessed violent protests against a power project in 2017. The committee was formed to protest against land acquisition for the project in Bhangar.
“We have lost many seats by negligible margins of five, seven and 10 votes. But we have won nine of 10 gram panchayats in Bhangar 2 block,” Arabul said while stepping out of the counting centre. Arabul though won his seat in panchayat samity.
The ISF won several seats in Bhagabanpur, Bamanghata, Shanpukur and Bhogali gram panchayats.