New Delhi: Local Bengali news outlets are reporting violence in various pockets on counting day – continuing a trend in what has emerged as one of the bloodiest panchayat elections in recent history.Trends emerging from the results show that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is leading in all but two districts – Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The BJP appears set to be the main opposition, closely followed by the CPI(M)-Congress combination.However, it was violence that once again took centre stage. Physical attacks, bombings and fights have been reported from Purba Medinipur, Nadia, Paschim Bardhaman and North 24 Parganas. Hundreds have been injured in separate incidents. In Birbhum, Congress candidates’ houses were allegedly attacked by TMC supporters, according to local reports.Howrah and Hooghly districts have seen sporadic skirmishes as well. In Howrah’s Sankrail, CPI(M) observers were driven out of the counter centre by TMC supporters, according to reports.The TMC and the opposition parties traded blame for the violence.The Bengali news outlet Anandabazar Patrika has reported that a TMC candidate, Mahadeb Mati, upon discovering that he was losing the polls to CPI(M)’s Rabindranath Majumdar by four votes, ate the ballot papers that could prove the margin.Because ballot papers were used instead of EVM machines, the results might take longer to come in. According to Indian Express, at 6 pm, the TMC was leading in 18,590 gram panchayat seats, while the BJP was ahead in 4,479. The CPI(M)-led Left Front was ahead in 1,426 seats respectively and the Congress in 1,071 seats.Meanwhile, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee claimed that “malicious propaganda” by “mainstream media” against the Mamata government could not sway the votersGrateful to the people for converting Oppn’s ‘NO VOTE TO MAMATA’ campaign to ‘NOW VOTE FOR MAMATA.’With unwavering support to #TrinamooleNaboJowar, we’ll surely have a roaring mandate, paving the way for LS elections. Bengal, I thank you for all the love. #GramBanglayTMC (2/2)— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) July 11, 2023