TMC defection hands Congress civic body

JALPAIGURI: Trinamool lost control of Mekhliganj municipality in Cooch Behar after its chairman, who defected to Congress on Friday, said six councillors would follow him into Congress. This will be the first civic body to be managed by Congress since the change of govt in West Bengal.

Chairman Prabhat Patani received the party flag from state Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar at the Pradesh Congress office in Kolkata, in the presence of Congress politician Debaprasad Roy. Following his induction, Patani said: “I joined Congress at their Kolkata office. When I return to Mekhliganj, six more councillors will formally join the party.”

Out of six municipalities in Cooch Behar, Mekhliganj consists of nine seats, all of which were originally won on TMC tickets. Before the assembly elections, the councillor from Ward No. 4 left TMC and joined BJP. About 18 months ago, councillors removed the previous chairman and appointed Patani to the post. With Patani and the six councillors, Congress has secured a majority, transferring control of the municipality. One councillor said he would stay with TMC.

Speaking on the development, Roy said individuals who aligned with Congress ideology had previously joined Trinamool due to inducement or pressure. He added that these individuals, now facing an ideological crisis, were returning to Congress. Patani said, “It is no longer possible to work in TMC because of its internal conflict. I joined Congress to ensure development... and to protect the interests of the public.”