TMC withdraws support from Cong-led Siliguri civic body

THE Trinamool Congress on Monday withdrew support to the Congress-led civic body in Siliguri in north Bengal resulting in failure to pass the budget.

Senior Trinamool councillor Krishnachandra Pal announced his party was taking back support to the alliance-run civic board just ahead of the tabling of the budget that lead to Congress councillors creating ruckus in the House and demanding that the budget be considered as passed.

Even as the din increased,Chairman Nantu Pal tabled the budget for voting and all the 14 Trinamool councillors voted against it.

Congress councillors maintained since they were numerically higher 15 as against Trinamools 14 and already publicly supported the budget there was no need for them to formally cast votes and it should be technically considered passed.

In the melee,the Chairman announced the budget could not be passed today.

In the 47-seat SMC,Congress has 15 members,the Trinamool 14 and the CPM 17. With the resignation of the ward number 21 Trinamool councillor three years ago,the seat fell vacant with no by-poll having taken place since then.

Congress sources said the civic board was not in danger and the budget could again be taken up later.

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However,Trinamool said the Congress has lost the right to run the corporation any more.

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