RSP support to CPM-led civic body at risk

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 17: With less than a month to go for the Lok Sabha elections, a group of RSP leaders have threatened to withdraw support from the LF-led board of the Old Malda Municipality.

The CPI-M leaders have urged the RSP leaders not to revolt so soon before the elections.

Despite the CPI-M’s request, the RSP leaders held a meeting with the members of three local committees in Old Malda last night and adopted a resolution that they would wait for three days.

“If the CPI-M leaders do not resolve the problem, the vice-chairman of the Old Malda Municipality, Mrs Tripti Pandey, will submit her resignation to the chairman,” said Mr Sarbananda Pandey, a district committee member of the RSP and Mrs Pandey’s husband.

Mr Pandey said that the local leaders including three RSP councillors of Old Malda Municipality have decided to withdraw support from the “CPI-M-led board” because of misbehaviour by the chairman, Mr Biswanath Sukul.

“The RSP councillors do not get any respect from the chairman. Even the BJP councillors are more respectful to him. The chairman does not allot development funds to the wards from where the RSP candidates were elected,” Mr Pandey alleged.

Mr Sukul, who is himself a local CPI-M leader, seemed to be surprised by the news. “Is it? I do not know about their plan. What they have alleged has never happened.”

Mr Pandey pointed out that he would also discuss the matter with RSP leader Mr Biswanath Chowdhury so that he may draw the attention of Left Front chairman Mr Biman Bose to the issue.

Mr Bose and Mr Choudhury will both be present in Malda to attend the LF workers’ meet to gear up the workers for the Lok Sabha elections.