Cong-Trinamool chasm widens over Siliguri mayoral post

“At the state level,we strongly demand that a Congress councillor be fielded for the post,but I do not know if Mamata Banerjee will allow our proposal,” said a senior leader of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee.

“In fact,if the experience from the recent by-elections is anything to go by,it is clear that she will press for a TMC mayor,” the senior Congress leader added.

“We have enough time to resolve the issue. I feel the final decision will be taken after the Pujas,” said Subrata Mukherjee,WBPCC working president.

In the 47-member body election,the Trinamool Congress bagged 14 seats while the Congress bagged 15. One independent councillors Ranjan Silsharma switched to the TMC,though he was denied ticket by the party.

Ranjan was flown to Kolkata from Siliguri and kept in the close watch of TMC leaders.

The independent councillor was expelled from TMC a few months ago,ironically now he is the trumpcard for the party in bargaining with Congress over the mayor’s post.

“I was very much with the Trinamool,” said Silsharma,who had held a discussion with Congress MP Deepa Dasmunsi,who was in-charge of the election.

Following the meeting with Dasmunsi,Silsharma expressed his gratitude to the Congress for helping him win the vote. “It is very difficult for our party to trust such a person. But we have to rely on him,” said a senior Trinamool leader.

A section of Congress leaders believe that the TMC should follow the ‘rules’ of alliance politics. For the Bowbazar and Sealdah by-elections,Congress had left both the seats for the Trinamool.

“Our state leaders will not allow a TMC mayor for Siliguri,” said a Congress leader.

“Things can change only if the high command interferes. Following instructions from the high command,we had withdrawn candidates from both Sealdah and Bowbazar seats,” the leader added.

A TMC leader said that it is clear that the Congress would have to depend on the TMC in North Bengal. For this reason,the Congress should leave the post for the TMC,said the leader,while adding: “If the issue cannot be settled at the state level,we will take it up in Delhi.”