Photographs: Dipak Chakraborty/Rediff.com Indrani Roy Mitra in Kolkata
Trinamool Congress candidates were simply ecstatic. Rightly so.
It should not be forgotten that the TMC is set to gain a majority on its own, without its election ally Congress. This is expected to set to rest the infamous 'tussle' between the TMC and Congress in West Bengal and also lend Banerjee's party important political mileage at the central level.
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Complete Coverage: Assembly Elections 2011
It's time for firecrackers and green gulal
Image: Banerjee's supporters shout slogansPhotographs: Dipak Chakraborty/Rediff.com
Firecrackers were burst initially by overjoyed TMC supporters but they were 'banned' soon by a stern diktat from Didi's andarmahal (from inside the house).We attempted to speak to some TMC supporters but it was absolutely impossible to initiate a conversation amid the din.
People's victory: Mamata
Image: Trinamool supporters show the victory sign in KolkataPhotographs: Dipak Chakraborty/Rediff.com
She, it is heard, was parleying with some of her closest aides. Perhaps, she was busy mapping her role as the first woman chief minister of West Bengal.
As soon as early trends indicated a clear win for the Trinamool-Congress combine, Banerjee told Press Trust of India that she would be happy with a people's victory in West Bengal.
"We thank the people with all humbleness. This victory belongs to ma mati manush. This victory will usher in joy in Bengal. It's a moment of happiness. Let's all remember the martyrs who laid down their lives for the last three decades. We salute them," she said.
Supporters go hysterical
Photographs: Dipak Chakraborty/Rediff.com
"Ma, mati, manush," a woman kept shouting, almost hysterically. It was celebration time at Banerjee's residence.
A big pandal was set up in the vicinity on Thursday itself, anticipating the TMC win, to accommodate journalists, supporters and visitors when the party would hold a press conference on Friday afternoon.Silence at the CPI-M headquarters
Image: CPI-M's 34-year-old rule is set to come to an end in BengalPhotographs: Reuters
CPI-M state chief Biman Bose will be addressing the media later on Friday afternoon. Since Bose had 'predicted' a 'comfortable' win for the Left on Thursday, one would be all ears to know how he explains this debacle.
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