Amid setbacks, TMC sweeps Bengal Bar Council polls, BJP manages just 3 seats

Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has retained control of the West Bengal Bar Council, winning 15 of 23 elected seats against three each for the BJP and Left Front and two for the Congress.

In Short

• TMC won 15 of 23 seats in West Bengal Bar Council elections
• BJP secured only 3 seats despite ruling the state
• Victory comes after series of setbacks for Trinamool

After a series of setbacks following the Assembly elections, marked by rebellions, defections, legal cases and political accusations, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has found some cause for relief. The party has retained control of the West Bengal Bar Council, winning 15 of the 23 elected seats.

Despite the BJP coming to power in West Bengal, the party secured only three seats in the lawyers’ body. The results offer a stark contrast to the Assembly election outcome, hinting at the TMC’s continued influence among sections of the legal fraternity.

Of the 23 elected seats, the TMC won 15, while the BJP and Left Front secured three each and the Congress won two. Five seats are reserved for women, of which the TMC won four and the Congress one.

The winning Trinamool candidates were reportedly fielded on the recommendations of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In accordance with Supreme Court directives, the Bar Council of India will nominate two additional women members from among the female candidates. With these nominations, the total strength of the West Bengal Bar Council will rise to 25.

A total of 75 candidates contested the election. The TMC fielded 23 candidates, followed by the BJP with 22, the Left Front with 12 and 18 independents.

The BJP retained its previous tally of three seats, while the Congress held on to its two seats. The Left Front, however, saw its representation fall from four seats in the previous election to three this time.

The results triggered celebrations in the TMC camp, with Subhashis Chakraborty of the Trinamool lawyers’ cell emerging as the candidate who won by the highest margin. Other prominent TMC winners included Baisanor Chatterjee, Ansar Mondal, Ashok Deb, Indranil Basu and Siddhartha Mukherjee.

Sanjay Bardhan, a member of the TMC’s lawyers’ cell, said the election was conducted across district courts, with practising lawyers participating in the process.

"The State Bar Council was formed last March through votes cast by practising lawyers across all district courts. Under the new rules, five of the 23 seats are reserved for women. Trinamool has secured four of these women’s seats," Bardhan said.

Voting for the West Bengal Bar Council elections began on March 9, just days before the Assembly elections.

With the results now declared, the TMC is expected to form the new board of the West Bengal Bar Council shortly. Within the party, the outcome is being seen as a sign that its organisational influence among sections of the legal fraternity remains intact despite its setback in the Assembly elections.

- Ends
(With Inputs From Manas Naskar)