In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress reinforced its dominant position in rural local bodies,

bagging 9,270 seats in gram panchayats.

According to results available, BJP emerged as the main challenger to the ruling party in most districts. State Election Commission sources said, TMC is also ahead in 2,317 gram panchayat seats for which counting is in progress.

The BJP has won 2,079 seats and is leading in 200 seats, while the CPI(M) got 562 gram panchayat seats and is ahead in another 113.

Congress won 315 seats and is leading in 61 seats. Independent candidates have won 707 gram panchayat seats and are leading in 120 seats.

According to the Election Commission sources, TMC has so far won 95 panchayat samiti seats and is leading in another 65, while the other parties are yet to open their accounts. In zilla parishads, the TMC has won 10 seats and is leading in 25 seats.

BJP emerged as the main challenger to the TMC in gram panchayat in almost every districts except Murshidabad and Malda, the two Congress strongholds. The counting of votes began at 8 am today amid tight security.

Of the 48,650 seats in gram panchayats, 16,814 went uncontested. There was no contest for 3,059 of the 9,217 panchayat samiti seats.

In all, 203 of the 825 zilla parishad seats were uncontested. The panchayat polls took place on Monday amid reports of widespread violence and clashes between rival political groups. Re-polling was held yesterday on 573 polling booths after complaints of false voting and booth rigging.

Opposition political parties and a section of the media claimed that 21 people were killed in violence on the polling day, while five more people died on the next day.