Trinamool Congress' effort to widen the party's base in railway unions in West Bengal has suffered a major setback, as TMC affiliated body has lost railway union elections in all three railway zones headquartered in Kolkata.
In election to all three zones – Kolkata Metro, Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway-- TMC affiliated union even failed get the status of a recongnised union. A union is required to secure at least 30% of the polled votes to get recognition. This enables the concerned union to represent workers before the management for a five-year term.
In Metro Railway, CPI-M backed MTP Railway Mens' Union emerged as the only recognised union securing 46% votes. Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress affiliated Metro Railway Progotishil Sramik Karmachari Union manged to secure 27 per votes. TMC leader and West Bengal transport minister Madan Mitra , was in charge of the TMC's union during the election in Metro railway.
TMC's union, in fact, witnessed a worse performance in Eastern and South Easter Railway zones as it copuld secure only 5 and 12% votes respectively. Bnoth Left affiliated and Congress affiliated unions manged to get recognitions in this two zones.
Incidentally, TMC affiliated unions contested the poll independently for the first time, as in 2007 it had backed Congress affiliated union in railway poll.
