After Naihati win, TMC eyes Bhatpara civic body
Bhatpara: A day after Trinamool’s 24-0 victory in the no-trust vote in Naihati municipality, party leaders have set sights on regaining control of Bhatpara municipality. Like Naihati, the Bhatpara civic body was taken over by BJP after 27 TMC councillors defected after the Lok Sabha polls.
Jyotipriyo Mullick, the North 24 Parganas party chief and state food minister, on Thursday said: “At least 21 BJP councillors have expressed their desire to return to Trinamool.
They include some who are chairmen-in-council in the BJP-run Bhatpara board. I will meet them along with municipal affairs minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim. Within the next two weeks, we will table a no-confidence motion against the present Bhatpara chairman.”
Chairman Sourav Singh, incidentally, is Barrackpore BJP MP Arjun Singh’s nephew. Arjun had stepped down as TMC chairman after his Lok Sabha poll victory on a BJP ticket.
Somnath Talukdar, who was vice-chairman in the Trinamool-run board chaired by Arjun, and five other councillors were among those who did not defect and voted against Sourav’s bid for chairmanship. Talukdar later defected to BJP. He is vice-chairman in the present BJP-run board.
Chairman Sourav Singh, incidentally, is Barrackpore BJP MP Arjun Singh’s nephew. Arjun had stepped down as TMC chairman after his Lok Sabha poll victory on a BJP ticket.
Somnath Talukdar, who was vice-chairman in the Trinamool-run board chaired by Arjun, and five other councillors were among those who did not defect and voted against Sourav’s bid for chairmanship. Talukdar later defected to BJP. He is vice-chairman in the present BJP-run board.
Rejecting Mullick’s claim, Talukdar said: “He has no basis to make such tall claims. When the entire state is turning towards BJP, Trinamool is only focussing on Bhatpara. They have five councillors in Bhatpara. I challenge them to show us the signature of even a sixth councillor when they table the no-confidence motion.”
Bhatpara municipality has 35 wards. Of these, 27 councillors are officially with BJP. Five are Trinamool councillors. CPM has a lone councillor while one is an Independent. Two seats fell vacant after Arjun resigned after becoming an MP and a Congress councillor died.
After Mullick’s statement, Arjun led a procession of over 10,000 BJP supporters who marched from Titagarh to Barrackpore rail station. Sources said Arjun engaged in this show of strength to send a message to Mullick and the Trinamool.
Next Story
READ ON APP