Kolkata, Feb 2 (TIWN): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday thanked the people of West Bengal for giving a massive mandate to the ruling Trinamool Congress in the civic elections, and called upon winning candidates and supporters to work with humility. TMC scored a landslide victory, winning 93 of the 107 municipalities that went to polls on February 27.

"Heart-felt gratitude to Ma-Mati-Manush for according yet another overwhelming mandate to us. Congratulations to the winning candidates of All India Trinamool Congress in the Municipal Elections," she tweeted.

Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, the three other municipal bodies in the hills, were retained by the GJM, but not before a fright in early rounds of counting when the Trinamool led in most municipalities.   In the plains, the Trinamool won all three, Raiganj, Domkal and Pujali. It snatched Raiganj from the Congress and made inroads into another of the rival party's strongholds with its win in Domkal which is in Murshidabad district, dominated by state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for years.   The Calcutta High Court this morning dismissed the Congress' petition for fresh elections in the three municipalities after opposition parties withdrew candidates from many wards on Sunday, polling day, because of violence and booth capturing, which they blame on the ruling party.  To make matters worse for them, one Congress and two CPM winners of wards in Domkol promptly joined the Trinamool.

"This is all Mamata Banerjee's 'karishma (miracle)" exulted Samik Hossain, a leader from her party in Domkal.    Manoj Chakraborty, Congress legislator from Domkal called it "a disgrace." The opposition parties allege today's results would have been different in the plains had they been held with central forces in charge.