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The Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Wednesday accepted defeat in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The Trinamool Congress won 98 out of 141 seats, the Left Front managed to win 31 wards, while the Congress won six wards. Accepting the defeat of the Congress, senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee congratulated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on her party's emphatic win in the civic polls. "First of all, I would like to congratulate Mamata Banerjee for her excellent performance both in Calcutta and also in other districts. I accept the failure of Congress to come up to the expectations, which we had and I accept the verdict of the people with all humility," said Mukherjee addressing the media in New Delhi. CPI-M Politburo member M.K Pandhe also accepted the verdict of the people. "We accept the people's verdict and see whatever the people want to say. Our party will have to accept the people's verdict and we will assess our line of approach in the forthcoming period, depending on the outcome of the elections," said Pandhe. Earlier, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said that she is 'confident' of her party's victory in the civic polls. A striking feature of thes e elections was the failure of the Trinamool Congress and the Congress to clinch a seat-sharing deal. Both parties contested the polls by themselves in almost all municipalities spread across the state. The polls are being seen as the semi-finals ahead of next year's Assembly elections.

Congress, CPI-M accept defeat in Kolkata Municipal Corporation