Cong. accuses Siliguri Mayor of covert ties with Trinamool

Fissures appear in the Left-Congress unity at the municipal corporation

Fissures started to appear in the Left-Congress unity at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) in north Bengal, known as the birthplace of the alliance. The Congress has accused the Mayor and CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya of having a “covert understanding” with the Trinamool Congress.

Mr. Bhattacharya, a former Minister in the erstwhile Left Front government, is considered one of the key architects of the Left-Congress alliance. Regarded as the creator of the “Siliguri model” — unifying all the opposition parties against the Trinamool — he led the Left Front to victory in the SMC polls where they joined forces with the Congress in May 2015.

Mr. Bhattacharya refused to comment on the matter.

‘Indulging in politics’

Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, Congress leader in the SMC Sujoy Ghatak said the Mayor had a covert understanding with the Trinamool and so the ruling party was not opposing his misrule. Mr. Ghatak accused the Mayor of “neglecting” his duties and “indulging in politics” over developmental issues. He refuted Mr. Bhattacharya’s argument that the SMC could not undertake developmental work in Siliguri due to the “non-cooperation” of the TMC government. “Notwithstanding the lack of funds, the Mayor has done precious little to address civic issues such as curbing the use of plastic bags. This can be done even without government funding,” said Mr. Ghatak.

Mr. Ghatak accused the Mayor of being “partial” towards TMC councillors.

He dismissed the notion of the “Siliguri model” and said there was no pre-poll alliance between the Left and the Congress in the SMC polls and the alliance was formed after the poll results were declared. “We did not contest the SMC polls by forging an alliance with the Left. The Congress has its own identity and will go by its own terms,” he said.

The Congress, which has four councillors in the SMC, will launch an agitation against the Left-controlled municipal board after the passing of the municipal budget on Thursday.

Floor coordination

Hinting that they are keen to rope in the Congress against the Left Front in the SMC, Leader of the Opposition and TMC councillor Nantu Paul said they welcome “floor coordination” with the Congress during the passing of the SMC budget on Thursday. “We are in talks with the Congress in this regard and welcome their support in opposing the directionless SMC budget,” he told The Hindu .