TMC opens HQ in building that houses CPM office

TMC leaders at the new party office in Darjeeling on Monday.

EOI, Darjeeling, 28 Jul 2014:  The hill Trinamool Congress has opened its party headquarters here at Judge Bazaar in an empty government building that also houses the CPM’s office on the lower floor.

While the latter alleged the reason for the TMC to have its office in the same building is because it is keen for a confrontation, the TMC maintained it has put a vacant government building into use and would empty it if the government wanted the party to move out.

“We opened our headquarters here today in this building as it has been lying empty for quite some time. The two storeys we have rented will include a hall and office spaces. The building will also have offices of our youth and women’s wing and trade union,” said hill TMC president Rajen Mukhia.

When asked if the TMC had taken permission from the government, he said, “We do not know which department this building belongs to so we have no idea as to whom to approach. However, if the government wants us to vacate it, we will act accordingly. This is why we are not spending a lot of money for renovation work but only making essential changes.”

The building in question, in which the CPM has had its office since the past several years, belongs to the industry department and was left incomplete in the mid 1980s when the Gorkhaland agitation was ongoing led by the Gorkha National Liberation Front. As the building was incomplete and empty, the CPM, which was in power then, set up its party office on one of the floors maintaining it had applied for a lease for that portion.

Now, the CPM is accusing the TMC of trying to intimidate it by opening an office in the same building.

“We have nothing to say when a political party opens up its office, but we do not understand why the TMC had to open one in the same building where we have ours. This only means the party wants a confrontation with us,” said CPM senior leader Saman Pathak.

He added, “Moreover, there is also a process involved such as applying for a lease and so on. We have done so with the industrial department in Kolkata but have not received any response as yet. We only want to regularise our office there.”

The CPM has had its party office in the building since 1997.

When asked whether a controversy would be created as the CPM already has its office in the same building, Mukhia said, “The CPM has an office on the floor below ours and we have no qualms with them and they can operate peacefully in the same way we will be functioning.”

When contacted, Darjeeling district magistrate Puneet Yadav said, “We can only take action if we receive an official complaint.”