BGPM councilors in Darjeeling Municipality ask for floor test

EOI, DARJEELING, DECEMBER 17, 2022:  Sixteen councilors of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha have asked the Darjeeling Municipality chairman for a floor test after the defection of several councilors of the ruling Hamro Party to the rival camp.

On Saturday BGPM civic body councilors huddled for a meeting at Kurseong and took the decision to ask the Municipality Board to prove majority. 

“We have 16 councilors with us and are in majority. The HP led Darjeeling civic body chairman has to come for a floor test and prove their majority,” said Mukundraj Baraily, BGPM councilor from ward 26.

The HP swept the civic poll that was held in March this year, winning 18 out of the total of 32 seats. The BGPM won nine seats, while the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha won three and the Trinamool Congress got two seats. 

However, the equation has changed following the joining of six councilors from the HP joining the BGPM. 

The count now is that the HP has 15 councilors and the BGPM 16. Two Trinamool councilors have joined the BGPM while three from the GJM have joined the HP. 

After the resignation of BGPM councilor Amar Lama to unsuccessfully contest in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election held in June, one seat, ward no. 24, is vacant.

“It will not be long before the BGPM forms the Darjeeling Municipality board,” said Lama on Saturday. He is the advisor to the semi-autonomous council body. 

On November 28 the BGPM wrote to the civic body chairman, urging him to prove majority which was followed by another request earlier this month. 

“Twice we sought a floor test, but the municipality chairman has shown indifferent attitude. In democracy the opposition must be heard. It seems the HP is afraid to lose control of the civic body. The second request for a floor test expires on December 20. We are now ready to form the board, ”said Baraily. 

Interestingly, the BGPM is in majority in the GTA while the HP is the primary opposition.