Asok punch on day of tit-for-tat marches

Asok Bhattacharya at the march on Hill Cart Road in Siliguri on Monday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 8: Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya said he will not step down even if "held at gunpoint", the message meant to counter Trinamul leaders who protested against him outside the municipal office today.

On August 4, Darjeeling district Trinamul chief Gautam Deb said: "There will be major changes in the boards in SMC and SMP in this month," setting off speculation that the state's ruling party would try to topple the Left-run boards in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and the Mahakuma Parishad.

Days later, Trinamul announced its plan for today's protest, after the CPM planned the march that Bhattacharya led in Siliguri today.

At the march, Bhattacharya highlighted again the alleged bias of the state government against the Left-run civic board and the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad.

"I want to make it clear that I will not bow down under any pressure. The Left board will be here till 2020, when the next elections would be held to the SMC. Any attempt to lure me by offering money will not work. Even if I am held at gunpoint, I will not step down from the mayor's post," Bhattacharya said.

Around 11.30am, Trinamul protesters took out the march to the SMC office. Policemen were posted on the civic premises to prevent any trouble. The councillors, including Nantu Pal, the leader of Opposition in the SMC, delivered speeches, accusing the Left board of failing to "provide even basic services".

"The mayor and the MMICs have grossly failed to run the civic body. They could not provide even the basic civic services and to conceal their failure they are always blaming the state for not giving funds," Pal said. "We want the mayor to step down immediately as development in Siliguri has come to a halt in the past one year."

"We have communicated with the mayor's office about today's programme. However, the mayor did not bother to send even a messenger to meet us," he said.

Bhattacharya said he was waiting with the councillors to answer the Trinamul members' queries, but they only wanted his resignation.

Trinamul's demonstration continued till 1.30pm after which the protesters left the campus.

At 4.30pm, Darjeeling district Left Front took out a march that moved through Hill Cart Road. Around 1,000 party workers and supporters joined it.