Archrivals TMC and BJP ally to win a co-operative election unopposed in Bengal's Nandigram

The two parties entered into a seat-adjustment for 54 seats in the elections for Dinabandhu Cooperative Agricultural Development Society in Nandigram's Rampur.

Out of 54, the TMC won 32 seats while the BJP won in 18- all uncontested - on December 14.

Speaking of the alliance, the TMC said the decision was taken locally and also to save the expenditure.

"It is a decision taken by local people. Elections cost money. It would have taken Rs 2 lakh for arrangements for the elections of the co-operative. So, good-thinking people on both sides held a meeting and decided on a seat adjustment," local TMC leader Arup Gol said as quoted by The Indian Express.

Sudip Das, BJP's leader from Tamluk, told the daily, "There is no political colour in co-operative elections. Local people have decided to make a seat adjustment. This will not reflect in other places or in the state or centre."

The top leaders of both the parties- TMC and BJP- said they would find out what actually transpired on the ground.

The Left, which is the third force in the state right now, reiterated its claim that the TMC and BJP have a "tacit understanding" in the state.

Suvendu Adhikari, who switched from TMC to BJP just before the 2021 assembly elections, had defeated West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram in last state polls by little over 1,900 votes.