5 days ago
Jalpaiguri TMC civic chief resigns before no-confidence vote; board dissolved
Saikat Chatterjee was the chairman of the Jalpaiguri municipality.
Many councillors from his own Trinamool Congress party wanted to remove him.
He resigned just before they voted on a no-confidence motion.
The councillors still passed the motion after he left.
Chatterjee said councillors were being frightened and could not vote freely.
Another senior councillor said the municipality had nearly stopped working under Chatterjee.
Later, the state government dissolved the municipal board.
Moin Ahamd was appointed to run the municipality as administrator.
Saikat Chatterjee resigned as chairman of the Jalpaiguri municipality shortly before councillors tabled a no-confidence motion.
Despite his resignation, 16 of 19 remaining Trinamool Congress councillors voted for the motion.
Congress councillors skipped the meeting, while the sole CPM councillor attended but abstained.
Chatterjee alleged intimidation and a conspiracy to use the municipality for political interests.
The state urban development department dissolved the board and appointed Moin Ahamd as administrator.
- Who
- Saikat Chatterjee, Trinamool Congress councillors, and state municipal authorities were involved.
- What
- Chatterjee resigned before a no-confidence motion was passed against him, and the municipal board was later dissolved.
- Where
- Jalpaiguri municipality.
- When
- Thursday; the board was dissolved later the same day.
- Why
- Trinamool councillors said the municipality had stalled under Chatterjee; Chatterjee alleged intimidation and a political conspiracy.
Chatterjee’s account
Councillors’ account
Reason for the no-confidence vote
Chatterjee’s account
Chatterjee alleged that councillors, a political party, and sections of the administration conspired to paralyse civic services and use the municipality for their own interests.
Councillors’ account
Senior Trinamool councillor Sandeep Mahato alleged that the municipality had virtually come to a standstill under Chatterjee’s leadership.
Whether councillors voted freely
Chatterjee’s account
Chatterjee said a climate of fear and intimidation made it impossible for councillors to vote freely and fairly, prompting his resignation before the vote.
Councillors’ account
Mahato alleged that some councillors were threatened to stop them from supporting the no-confidence motion.
Political disagreement
Chatterjee’s account
Chatterjee’s account linked the dispute to political opponents attempting to control the municipality.
Councillors’ account
A senior Trinamool functionary said councillors were angered after Chatterjee met Ritabrata Banerjee, who heads a rebel group, following Trinamool’s loss to the BJP in Assembly elections.
Key facts
- Municipal councillors
- The municipality had 25 councillors: 22 Trinamool Congress, two Congress, and one CPM.
- Remaining Trinamool councillors
- Three Trinamool councillors had resigned earlier, leaving 19.
- No-confidence vote
- Sixteen of the 19 remaining Trinamool councillors voted in favour.
- Congress participation
- Both Congress councillors stayed away from the meeting.
- CPM participation
- The sole CPM councillor attended but did not vote.
- New administrator
- Moin Ahamd, the Jalpaiguri Sadar subdivisional officer, was appointed administrator.
- Board status
- The state urban development and municipal affairs department dissolved the board.
Quotes
Saikat Chatterjee
Former chairman of the Jalpaiguri municipality
“A climate of fear and intimidation had been created among councillors through a series of incidents, making it impossible for them to vote freely and fairly against the motion. That is why I chose to resign, instead of participating in the vote.”
telegraphindia.com
“Some of the Trinamool councillors, along with a political party and sections of the administration, had conspired to paralyse the civic services. My political opponents were attempting to use the municipality for their own interests.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Related news
TMC Councillors Vote Out Dhuliyan Municipality Chairman Over Alleged Failures
TMC duo resign from Malda Zilla Parishad leadership posts
Birbhum Zilla Parishad Chief Resigns, Ending Administrative Gridlock
TMC Defections Give Congress Claimed Control Of Dhulian Board
Bhopal Civic Chairman Rebukes Commissioner Over Sudden Exit
Mahua Moitra Faces Black-Flag Protest During Bengal Visit
Mamata Presses Election Commission Over TMC Symbol, Funds
Mamata Promises Street Fight and TMC Return in Bengal
Mamata Predicts Disqualification of 20 Rebel TMC MPs
Suvendu Adhikari Says Bengal Student Polls Coming, Predicts ABVP Sweep
