Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee has asked the leaders of Murshidabad to give a detailed report of the party’s loss in the by-election in Sagardighi Assembly constituency.

Congress candidate Bayron Biswas, who was backed by the CPI-M, defeated the Trinamul Congress candidate by over 22,000 votes in the bypoll.

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The seat fell vacant following the death of Subrata Saha, Trinamul minister of state. Saha had won the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections.

Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul Congress national general secretary, had visited Sagadridhi and was confident about the victory of the party candidate.

While Miss Banerjee had described the alliance of the Congress and CPI-M for the by-election as an unholy alliance, it is certain that Congress, CPI-M and BJP would form an unofficial alliance in the ensuing Panchayat election.

Political observers said though it would be difficult for the parties to get control over any Zila Parishad but at the Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samity levels, the Opposition parties might do well in some districts like Murshidabad, Malda, Purulia, Bankura, East Midnapore and Jhargram.

In the 2016 Assembly election when the first alliance between CPIM and Congress was inked, the Left Front did very badly bagging only 31 seats which was worst since 1971. After the results were out, CPI-M Politburo had issued a statement which stated that “the alliance was not in consonance with the decision of the Central Committee.” Political observers said that there are difficulties in the way of the Congress and CPIM forming an alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and if that happens the other Left Front partners might leave the Front.

It was learnt that the leaders from Murshiudabad would submit their report to the party chairperson and national general secretary and after analysing the report further action would be chalked out.

It is likely that Miss Banerjee will meet the leaders from Murshidabad next week to discuss the matter

While Miss Banerjee had described the alliance of the Congress and CPI-M for the by-election as an unholy alliance, it is certain that Congress, CPI-M and BJP would form an unofficial alliance in the ensuing Panchayat election