Amid the aftershocks of a blood-stained civic elections in North Bengal, an unusual delay by the Mamata Banerjee Government in issuing the notification to form the civic board in Siliguri Municipal Corporation has pushed up political temperatures with the Marxist mayoral candidate and former State Minister Ashok Bhattacharya accusing TMC of indulging in horse-trading.
Apart from housing the State’s second secretariat at Uttar Kanya, Siliguri is strategically important in Bengal’s political map also because from here the politics of North Bengal — comprising six districts with 56 Assembly segments — is controlled. Also, Siliguri emerged as a model in contemporary Bengal politics after all the political parties, irrespective of their political hues, stood united against the alleged electoral violence of the Trinamool Congress that afforded the ruling outfit an overwhelming majority in southern parts of the State.
The recently concluded civic elections in 92 boards saw TMC win as many as 70 boards, the left and the Congress winning five boards each. The remaining were hung houses. However, in the 47-mebmer Siliguri Corporation, the left won 23 seats while the TMC bagged 17. The Congress, BJP and Independent won four, two and one seat respectively.
With the Independent offering support to the left, the Marxist mayoral candidate and former State Minister, Ashok Bhattacharya looked almost set to form the Board. However, things tended to look different on Sunday when a statement was issued by State Minister and Trinamool’s most powerful MlA from North Bengal Gautam Deb.
He said, “The left have got the highest number of seats but they are still one seat short of majority whereas the Opposition have jointly won more seats than them.” On whether his statement hinted at his party’s attempt at forming the Board by-passing the left, he said “I have said what I had to say. I am making no statement now.”
Bhattacharya hit back saying, “Trinamool is indulging in horse-trading as it happens in the cow-belt and trying to buy councillors. But they will not succeed in their gameplan.” Ridiculing the Chief Minister for her stay in Siliguri during counting process, he said, “She was here to manipulate the counting but failed. Now she is trying to snatch Siliguri by force. But that will lead them to bigger trouble in North Bengal.”
Banerjee was leaving for Siliguri reportedly to oversee the sending of relief materials to Nepal quake victims. “Reaching quake relief is just a ploy. She is coming here to design the takeover of Siliguri. But she will hit a wall. let her come,” Bhattacharya said.