TMC bags three more Siliguri panchayats

Ruling party forms boards at 21 of 22 gram panchayats of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad

TMC supporters celebrate with Sanjib Sinha, the newly-elected pradhan, and  his deputy Sanjeet Mahato of Upper Bagdogra panchayat of SMP: Passang Yolmo

TT Correspondent   |   Siliguri   |    26.07.22  : The Trinamul Congress on Monday formed boards at three panchayats of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (SMP) though the party didn’t win enough seats in the polls held in June.

The ruling party formed the boards at 21 of 22 gram panchayats of the SMP on Monday. The only panchayat where the board couldn’t be formed by Trinamul is Binnabari.

“We have majority at the Binnabari panchayat but the chief could not be elected because of a technical problem. The post of the pradhan (chief) is reserved for Scheduled Tribes. There are two ST members who have won on BJP tickets,” said a Trinamul insider.

When the results were announced on June 29, no party secured the magic figure in three panchayats. But Mamata Banerjee’s party managed to secure boards of all the three rural bodies — Jalas-Nijamtara and Kismat panchayats of Phansidewa block and Patharghata panchayat of Matigara block — on Monday.

Alok Chakraborty, the chairman of Darjeeling (plains) district Trinamul, said the party had secured majority at all four panchayat samitis (the middle tier) and the SMP (the upper tier).

“However, we had majority at only 19 of 22 panchayats. Today, as we formed the boards in 21 panchayats, it is like a circle becoming complete. For the first time, our party has achieved so much success in rural Siliguri. We are confident that people will stand by us in the upcoming polls,” said Chakraborty.

Asked about Binnabari, he denied joining hands with the BJP members. A Trinamul insider, however, hinted that the party was ready to induct the duo.

“We hope good sense will prevail and both of them will accept the mandate of the majority of the voters of the panchayat and join our party,” he said.

Sources in the Darjeeling district administration said the oath-taking of all nine members of the SMP would take place at the block development officer’s office in Shivmandir on Tuesday.

“After the swearing-in ceremony at the BDO’s office, they will be felicitated by the party at a school ground in the afternoon,” said a Trinamul leader.

State ministers Aroop Biswas, Bulu Chikbaraik and Sabina Yeasmin and Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb are likely to attend the event, along with district Trinamul leaders.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph