Abhishek dubs 'Siliguri model' farce

TT, Siliguri, April 10: Trinamul MP Abhishek Banerjee attacked Asok Bhattacharya today and labelled the "Siliguri Model" a hoax which had only deprived Siliguri of further infrastructural development.

Scoffing at the strategy of the Congress-Left alliance, Banerjee said at a public meeting here: "We are often hearing the phrase 'Siliguri Model' as the elections are ahead. It is nothing but an alliance of bonhomie among opportunists. Congress and CPM leaders have come together for their personal interests and the entire model is a hoax."

He asked the people here to visit Calcutta and compare the development works carried out in both the cities. "One can clearly see how extensive development was carried out in Calcutta, unlike Siliguri, where the Left is in power at the local civic body," the Trinamul MP said.

"Those running the civic body often say that they cannot do development work because of fund constraints and try to pass on the buck to the state. I would say if they can't work, then you shouldn't vote for them. Please vote for those who can work and carry out development in the city," Banerjee added.

In the course of his speech, he also made an oblique remark at Asok Bhattacharya, the CPM candidate of Siliguri seat, who was the state municipal affairs and urban development minister when work of the flyover, a portion of which collapsed in Calcutta on March 31, had started.

"There should be a probe to find out whether the bank account of any CPM leader had swelled during those years when the contract of the flyover was assigned to the company concerned. The entire process, from issuing the tenders to finalisation of the contract, was done by the LF government," Banerjee said.

Such remarks by Banerjee reflect Trinamul's desperation to win the Siliguri seat, political observers said.

"The Siliguri seat is important for Trinamul as the party wants to defeat Asok Bhattacharya and prove that 'Siliguri Model' has not worked in Siliguri itself, " a political observer said.

The Trinamul MP, supporting Bhaichung, said if he won, Siliguri would be the guiding place of Darjeeling district. "Development works of Darjeeling district would be guided from Siliguri," he said.