Oct. 26: Trinamul minister and East Midnapore strongman Subhendu Adhikari today said the bypoll to the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat, from where his younger brother Dibyendu is contesting, was "already a won match" but appeared to betray worries when he said it was "up to" local leaders to ensure handsome margins.
"It is an already won match for us. But the lead has to be handsome," Subhendu said at a Trinamul workers' meeting in Tamluk where he began the campaign for MLA Dibyendu for the November 19 bypoll.
Trinamul sources said the party's showing in Tamluk in the Assembly elections earlier this year was a cause for concern. Trinamul lost three of the seven Assembly seats that make up the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency. In six seats, barring Nandigram, Trinamul's victory margin had come down in comparison to the leads secured in the 2014 parliamentary election.
According to the sources, infighting was one of the main reasons behind the dip in Trinamul's performance.
"I would like to believe our party trailing in this district was an accident, not an incident. I promise to ensure a lead of 1.2 lakh votes from Nandigram alone. The rest is up to all of you," said Subhendu, who vacated the Tamluk seat after he became the Nandigram MLA.
"Now everyone has to be seen on the field. Remember, civic polls will be held in some areas here next year. In 2018, the panchayat elections are scheduled. Help us do well in the bypoll, we will take care of those elections," he added.