Rivals BJP, CPM and Congress come togather to keep Mamata's TMC away in Bengal Panchayats

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

West Bengal, aiming to counter the influence of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Members representing BJP, CPM, and Congress, displaying a rare show of unity, collaborated to establish governing boards in at least three gram panchayats. The motive behind this unexpected alliance was to present a united front against the Trinamool Congress, particularly at the grassroots level.

One notable instance of this alliance occurred in Mahishadal, East Midnapore, where the BJP and CPM jointly formed the gram panchayat board. In this election, BJP secured eight out of 18 seats, TMC won eight, and CPM secured two. The newly-formed board received support from a CPM member, allowing BJP to take control.

Amritberia, however, experienced tension stemming from the formation of the panchayat board. Subhra Panda of BJP was elected as the pradhan, while Paresh Panigrahi of CPM was elected as the upa-pradhan. Bulu Prasad Jana, a CPM panchayat member, noted that the «INDIA alliance» was a decision made at the national level, but the formation of the BJP-led panchayat board was a response to local sentiments.

Tilak Kumar Chakraborty, Trinamool Congress MLA from Mahishadal, highlighted the strength BJP had gained from defections from the Left Front, indicating tacit support from CPM against Trinamool Congress. Similar «alliances» had been witnessed during the elections for cooperative societies in Nandakumar and Jagatpur the previous year. The cooperation extended to other areas as well.