Councillor of CPM threatens to quit

TT, Siliguri, April 13: A CPM councillor at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation today threatened to resign next week if the civic body didn't announce development projects for his ward, posing a fresh challenge for the Left Front board which is already in minority.

Dipayan Roy, the CPM councillor of ward 26, said: "Being the elected representative of my ward, I have to fulfil the aspirations of the local people. I am liable to carry out development works and ensure that civic services remain consistent so that residents do not face any problem. However, in the past two years, I couldn't carry out any development project in my area. So, I feel there is no logic for me to continue as the councillor."

Asked why he could not implement the development projects, the councillor said: "First of all, there is an acute shortage of funds. I have met the SMC commissioner and the mayor to know about the allocation of funds for different wards. None of them could reply with specific information. Later, I found that whatever money the civic body managed to get from different sources was being used for development in the wards of members mayor-in-council and senior Left councillors."

Today, Roy met Saradindu Chakraborty, the MMIC (water supply) and Siliguri zonal committee secretary of the CPM, in the latter's office at Deshbandhupara of the town.

"At the meeting, I have specifically told him that if there is no change in the situation within next four-five days, I will tender by resignation on Wednesday," Roy said.

If Roy eventually resigns, the Left Front's number will come down further. The Left has 22 councillors now, that is two short of the magic figure.

Two days back, the Left Front and mayor Asok Bhattacharya had faced defeat in the election to choose the chairman of a borough because of cross-voting.

The mayor today said: "We are running the civic body without adequate funds. Even then, we are taking up infrastructure projects in all wards. Works in Roy's ward will commence soon."

He, however, dodged a direct reply when asked about Roy's threat to resign.