Delay in EBM chief's swearing-in protested

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 26: The Congress, Trinamul Congress and the BJP councillors of English Bazaar Municipality today staged a demonstration in front of the district magistrate’s office here to protest against the delay in the swearing-in ceremony of the new civic body chief of the Congress, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari. The agitating councillors later burnt the Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, in effigy, alleging that the district magistrate had been intentionally delaying the swearing-in ceremony.They claimed that the deadlock has hampered the functioning of the civic body. The councillors, who have been protesting since last Saturday, turned violent today. They alleged that the DM did not want the new board to take charge.After a High Court order, the district administration had convened a meeting on 3 June to elect the new chairman. The move was necessitated after a no-confidence motion was passed against the then CPI-M-led board chairman. Of the 25 members of the board, 14 voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against the CPI-M chairman, thereby ousting him and the previous board from power. Mr Tiwari was then elected the new chairman of the civic body.But since he has not yet assumed office, he is not in a position to exercise his powers.Despite repeated requests by the 14 councillors, the district magistrate allegedly refuses to organise the swearing in of Mr Tiwari, citing “technical” reasons. Due to the impasse, the board is not in a position to pay its permanent and casual workers.Justifying the delay in the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Choudhuri said: “The process has been delayed for two reasons. First, the gazette notification to this effect has not yet been issued and, second, an earlier case is pending in the High Court.” The district magistrate added: “I wrote to the director of local bodies on 13 June, seeking his consent regarding the oath- taking ceremony.“The director has not responded yet. My hands are tied under the present circumstances. I am also a government servant. I cannot do anything until I get a nod from the authorities concerned.” Regarding the councillors’ allegation that he had been intentionally delaying the swearing-in ceremony, the district magistrate said the allegation was baseless.