The combined Left-Congress Opposition in Bengal received another jolt on Monday as the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) wrested control of the Malda and Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishads [District Councils].
While eight Left Front and six Congress members of Malda Council defected to the ruling party, six members of the Left Front also joined the TMC in Jalpaiguri district. Thus, the TMC wrested control over both the Councils. Following the 2016 Assembly elections, the TMC has pulled no punches to wrest control over the three-tier Panchayat system of Bengal, where the party has not won in the previous Panchayat election.
Earlier this month, eight Congress’ District Council members in Murshidabad, along with CPI-M and AIFB representatives, joined the TMC. The TMC also wrested control of the Beldanga Municipality in the district. In Purulia, the TMC wrested control of the Jhalda Municipality last month. After the Assembly polls, TMC gained control of the Swarupnagar and Hingalganj Gram Panchayats in North 24 Pargans district and took over the Habibpur Panchayat Samity in Malda.
Addressing the media on Monday, State Transport Minister and TMC’s observer in Malda district, Suvendu Adhikari, said, in the 38 member Malda District Council “eight Left Front members and six Congress members including the Council president Sarala Murmu joined the TMC”. He also said that two Council members of the Samajwadi Party also extended their support to the TMC.
Among the Left Front members who joined the TMC, seven were from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) while one were from the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB). With the development TMC’s tally in the Malda Council has gone up from six to 20. The TMC did not win a single seat in Malda in the Assembly polls.
“Corrupt means”
The Left Front and Congress leadership accused the TMC of resorting to “corrupt and undemocratic means” to gain control of the Councils. “The TMC is indulging in the unethical politics of engineering defection and is trying to buy off the elected representatives of the Congress in Malda. But the people of the district will foil their conspiracy,” Malda district president of Congress Mausam Benazir Noor said. CPI-M district secretary of Malda Ambar Mitra accused the TMC of indulging in “dirty politics.” Mr. Adhikari rubbished the Opposition’s allegation.
While eight Left Front and six Congress members of Malda Council defected to the ruling party, six members of the Left Front also joined the TMC in Jalpaiguri district. Thus, the TMC wrested control over both the Councils. Following the 2016 Assembly elections, the TMC has pulled no punches to wrest control over the three-tier Panchayat system of Bengal, where the party has not won in the previous Panchayat election.
Earlier this month, eight Congress’ District Council members in Murshidabad, along with CPI-M and AIFB representatives, joined the TMC. The TMC also wrested control of the Beldanga Municipality in the district. In Purulia, the TMC wrested control of the Jhalda Municipality last month. After the Assembly polls, TMC gained control of the Swarupnagar and Hingalganj Gram Panchayats in North 24 Pargans district and took over the Habibpur Panchayat Samity in Malda.
Addressing the media on Monday, State Transport Minister and TMC’s observer in Malda district, Suvendu Adhikari, said, in the 38 member Malda District Council “eight Left Front members and six Congress members including the Council president Sarala Murmu joined the TMC”. He also said that two Council members of the Samajwadi Party also extended their support to the TMC.
Among the Left Front members who joined the TMC, seven were from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) while one were from the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB). With the development TMC’s tally in the Malda Council has gone up from six to 20. The TMC did not win a single seat in Malda in the Assembly polls.
“Corrupt means”
The Left Front and Congress leadership accused the TMC of resorting to “corrupt and undemocratic means” to gain control of the Councils. “The TMC is indulging in the unethical politics of engineering defection and is trying to buy off the elected representatives of the Congress in Malda. But the people of the district will foil their conspiracy,” Malda district president of Congress Mausam Benazir Noor said. CPI-M district secretary of Malda Ambar Mitra accused the TMC of indulging in “dirty politics.” Mr. Adhikari rubbished the Opposition’s allegation.