He said he had been put "at a disadvantage" because of the sporadic violent attacks that he encountered when campaigning in his opponents' regional strongholds.

For some time however, the party managed to hold on to regional strongholds in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Some parties have regional strongholds, for example SMK is supported mainly by the Hungarian minority living in southern Slovakia.

Opposition parties fighting Malawi's first free elections have swept nearly all parliamentary seats in their regional strongholds, unofficial results from radio reports and other sources indicated Wednesday.

So is democracy suddenly taking root in the strongman's last regional stronghold?

Currently, it continues to be a regional stronghold of Izquierda Unida, which follows the traditions of PCE.

Mannargudi is a regional stronghold of the Communist Party of India which has won the assembly seat six times.

Tiruchirappalli served as a regional stronghold and provincial capital of the Medieval Cholas under whom it reached the zenith of its glory.

Former soldiers such as Santa Anna and Alvarez not only attained national prominence but also dominated their regional strongholds.

The three constituency clause favours those smaller parties with a regional stronghold.