Darjeeling, 28th December: Darjeeling Municipality from today is without a chairman. At the floor test, today 14 councillors of Anit Thapa-led Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) and 2 from TMC were present but none of the 12 councillors from Hamro Party and 3 from Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) took part in the floor test, even after they were served notice to attend the meeting.
The Executive Officer of Darjeeling Municipality, the Secretary, and the Accountant of the Municipality were present during the floor test. The Executive Officer of Darjeeling Municipality scrapped the Chairmanship of Ritesh Portel, the former Chairman of Darjeeling Municipality.
Speaking in this regard, Bisnu Malla, commissioner of BGPM said that until and unless a new board is formed, the Executive Officer will look after the office. A copy of the resolution passed today has been sent to Kolkata and a copy has been sent to the District Magistrate, Darjeeling. The District Magistrate within 8-10 days will fix a date for a fresh election where a new chairman will be elected, he added. Bisnu Malla further stated that a new board has to be formed and he is certain that they will form the board and will soon elect a new chairman.
Speaking on the agenda of the meeting today he said that the motive was the removal of the Chairman of the Municipality. 16 commissioners were present and they with the majority removed the chairman said Tapas Kr. Hazra, Executive Officer, Darjeeling Municipality. During the transit period, until the new chairman is elected the administration will run the municipality, he added.