Hamro Party move against Darjeeling Municipality councillor

EOI, DARJEELING MARCH 14, 2023 : The Hamro Party has decided to knock the doors of the West Bengal State Election Commission seeking disqualification of a councillor of Darjeeling Municipality of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha party, allegedly involved in a fraudulent activity.

On Tuesday, HP general secretary Furtemba Bhutia and former Municipality Chairman Ritesh Portel made public a report submitted by the Superintendent of Post Offices of Darjeeling to the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate involving the councillor misappropriating government money to the tune of Rs 1.15 crore when in service.

The charges against the councillor had stood established, leading to dismissal from service and bar on future employment under the government. The councillor concerned had, however, refunded the amount in two instalments.

“According to the Bengal Municipality Act, anyone dismissed from service cannot stay in the post of an elected representative," said Portel. The Hamro Party has also demanded a bye-election to ward no. 24 be held. Councillor of ward no. 4 Amar Lama, the BGPM general secretary, had contested unsuccessfully the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election