Trinamul divided over no-trust

Statesman News Service

MALDA,( India) Nov. 29 — The councillors’ board meeting held today in Malda indicated that a section of Trinamul Congress leaders is not willing to support a no-confidence motion against the present Left Front-backed board.

Trinamul leader Ms Sumala Agarwal has been assigned by Miss Mamata Banerjee to unite the Trinamul councillors who remain divided over the issue.

The absence of the rebel leader, Mr Dulal Sarkar, from today’s board meeting raised eyebrows of other Trinamul Congress councillors.

Following requests of Trinamul councillors, Miss Banerjee had to summon the leaders including Mr KN Chowdhury, the party’s district president, and Mr Dulal Sarkar, councillor, to resolve their differences.

The meeting resolved that in the interest of the party and to retain control over the board, both groups will work together and move a no-confidence motion against the present board with the help of Congress councillors.

But, the plan of the Trinamul supremo seemed a distant dream today with the absence of the rebel leader, Mr Dulal Sarkar, from the meeting.

A section of leaders felt that it will be difficult for the party to move the motion without the help of Congress and BJP councillors.

Of the total 25 elected councillors, the Left Front was able to form the board with its 11 councillors.

The Independent candidate for the chairman’s post, backed by the Left Front, had managed to get two votes from Congress and Trinamul councillors.

Opposition councillors have protested against the present board’s decision to slash taxes, terming it as ‘illegal’.

Interestingly, Congress councillor Mr Biswanath Guho has supported the board’s decision to slash taxes settled by the erstwhile Trinamul-BJP board.

The ruling CPI-M councillors have decided to focus on the issue, saying that the Opposition does not care about the people.

Chairman Mr NR Ghosh adjourned the board meeting when it turned into a war of words over the tax issue.

The district president of the Trinamul Congress and former chairman of the board, Mr KN Choudhury, said: “This board cannot change the rate of taxes. We must enforce a no-confidence motion against them later. I don’t know the reason for Mr Dulal Sarkar’s absence but he has clearly violated the directive of Miss Banerjee.” #