After the last date for filing nominations got over, it was evident that a large number of “unofficial” candidates have been fielded by both the parties against each other. According to the state election commission, 1,334 candidates will be contesting for 432 seats in 16 civic bodies.

Of the 16 municipalities, four — Islampur and Kaliaganj in North Dinajpur, Mal in Jalpaiguri and Sainthia in Birbhum — were won by the Congress in 2004, while Egra municipality in East Midnapore is with the Trinamool.

The rest are under the Left Front’s control.

The polls are going to be yet another test for the Opposition on whether they can continue to be allies till the 2011 Assembly polls, with leaders of both parties agreeing that “there are unofficial candidates in some places”.

For the 35 seats in the Rajarhat-Gopalpur municipality, the Left Front and the Congress-TMC combine have put up 35 candidates each. There are, however, 43 more candidates who have filed nominations among which, according to local sources, 24 are from either the Congress or the TMC. Same trends are being observed in Madhyamgram, Dum Dum, South Dum Dum in North 24-Parganas, Mahestala and Rajpur-Sonarpur in South 24-Parganas, Gangarampur in South Dinajpur and Dankuni in Hooghly district.

Around 200 out of the 432 civic body seats have been identified where candidates of the Congress-TMC combine will be contesting against “unofficial” Opposition candidates, said a Congress leader.

“We don’t think these unofficial candidates will hurt our prospects. We are contesting on the basis of the alliance with the TMC and we believe the electorate will choose the right candidate against the CPM,” said Manas Bhuniya, CLP leader.

Partha Chatterjee, leader of the Opposition and TMC legislator said: “We cannot compare Lok Sabha polls and civic body polls. Civic polls are more local issues-oriented. I do not think such unofficial candidates will be able to affect civic poll results.”

The election is another test of the CPM’s hold in urban areas in the face of the Lok Sabha poll debacle. While the party top brass are still debating its reasons, poll managers at Alimuddin Street have asked the district committees to field new faces in the poll battle. Accordingly, at least 250 of the 432 candidates have been changed and fresh blood infused, said a senior CPM leader.

For instance, in four municipalities of the North 24-Parganas, 117 seats will be contested, for which CPM has fielded 72 new candidates. For two municipalities in South 24-Parganas, CPM has 40 new candidates in the contest for 70 seats.

Poll count
Municipalities: 126
Elections to be held in: 16
Total seats - 432
Candidates: 1,334
Electorate: 20,84,727

Present status:
Left Front: 11
Congress: 4
Trinamool Congress: 1