Trinamool builds up pressure on CPM-run Siliguri municipal body

HT, 9 Aug 2016, SILIGURI: Aiming to oust the Left Front from Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), Trinamool Congress on Monday said they will highlight the ‘failures’ of the civic body by launching a cleanup campaign in the town. The TMC also announced that none of its councillors would enter the chamber of the mayor from Tuesday.

The decision was announced on Monday after a day-long demonstration of the TMC against what it called the failure of the civic body to provide services to the people.

Nantu Paul, the opposition leader in the civic body, alleged the Left Front has failed to implement the promises made in its election manifesto. The SMC election was held 14 months back and the Left Front came to power with the support of the Congress and Asok Bhattacharya of the CPM became the mayor.

Paul said, “The Left Front has increased the rate of taxes including mutation fees. However, the civic body has failed to clean drains, supply drinking water, implement social security schemes and implement the ban on the use of plastic carry bags.” As the SMC board has failed to perform, the mayor must resign, Paul demanded.

On Monday, different wings of the TMC demonstrated in front of the office of the mayor and demanded his resignation. Later Paul claimed that the mayor denied meeting the TMC councillors despite fixing a prior appointment.

On Saturday, TMC councillors met SMC commissioner and submitted a deputation highlighting the failures of the civic body. Paul said, “On Saturday we had fixed an appointment to meet the mayor in his chamber on Monday.”

But on Monday, all Left Front councillors occupied the chairs in the mayor’s chamber in a bid to deny us an appointment with the mayor, Paul alleged. Later the TMC decided that henceforth, their councillors would not enter the chamber of the mayor and would intensify the movement demanding his resignation.

As the SMC board has failed to clean the drains, the TMC would clean them in different wards of the town, the TMC leader in the civic body said. Mayor Asok Bhattacharya rubbished the allegations. “I was waiting for the TMC councillors in my chamber to discuss the issues with them in detail,” he said. On TMC’s demand for his resignation, he said, “Why should I resign?” The tug of war between the Trinamool Congress and the CPI (M) has adversely affected civic services. State tourism minister Goutam Deb has already indicated there will be a change of guard in the SMC by the end of August. Though the minister did not elaborate how this would be possible, sources in the TMC said that many Left Front and the Congress councilors are set to join the ruling party.

Asok Bhattacharya and Jibesh Sarkar, the CPI(M) Darjeeling district secretary, accused Goutam Deb of trying to sabotage the democraticallyelected board.