Siliguri, 17th August: The Left leaders marched towards Siliguri Municipal Corporation on Tuesday in support of an 8-point demand including immediate municipal elections. Left leader Ashok Bhattacharya, CPIM Darjeeling district secretary Jibesh Sarkar and several other left leaders and activists were present during the campaign. The Left leaders and activists staged a lengthy protest in front of the SMC gate.
Addressing the gathering, Ashok Bhattacharya said, “Even though the term of the municipality board has passed, the state government, out of fear of losing elections, is trying to retain the power of SMC by appointing an administrator.” He demanded the municipality election be held immediately.
“The present administrative board has discontinued all the allowances of poor people and is spending lakhs of rupees in the development of SMC office,” Bhattacharya further alleged. Bhattacharya also brought allegations of factionalism against the Trinamool Congress.
“As of now, I have shown the yellow card to SMC. If our demand is not met, then a red card will be shown,” he further added.
Meanwhile, BoA member Ranjan Sarkar highly criticized Ashok Bhattacharya’s remarks. Addressing Bhattacharya, he said, “People of Siliguri have already shown him a red card. He got only a few votes.”