The crucial electoral battle for 81 municipalities seen as the 'semi-final' to next year's West Bengal assembly elections, the run up to which was marked by acrimony between allies Trinamool Congress and Congress, will be held tomorrow.
The 141-ward Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is the bone of contention between the two allies with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and WBPCC President Pranab Mukherjee trading barbs thick and fast.
For the ruling Left Front, which is in power in most of the civic bodies, it will be a litmus test after the string of electoral defeats since the 2008 panchayat polls and last year's Lok Sabha elections to ascertain whether it will reap dividends from the decision of Congress and Trinamool Congress to go alone in the civic elections.
As for Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, it will also be a crucial test to ascertain the party's strength prior to the assembly elections.
The war of words between the Trinamool Congress and Congress started with the former unilaterally announcing its candidates for the KMC and offering the ally just 24 of the 141 wards.
The Congress had demanded 51 wards, including the ones where it either came first or second in the last KMC poll held in 2005.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress had demanded 51 wards, including the ones where it either came first or second in the last KMC poll held in 2005.
{{/usCountry}}