Bengal BJP chief warns against 'encroachment politics' in Kamarhati Municipality

Kolkata, July 6 (IANS) West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Monday expressed his displeasure over the recent developments in Kamarhati Municipality in North 24 Parganas district and sought a report on the matter. He also asserted that the BJP will not tolerate such "encroachment politics". 

Recently, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee's elder brother, Sushanta Chatterjee, was made the chairman of Kamarhati Municipality. This has sparked a major political debate in the state. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya also spoke on the issue, expressing his strong displeasure.

On Monday, he participated in the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The event was organised at the BJP state headquarters on Muralidhar Sen Lane in central Kolkata.

After attending the event, he criticised some of the party's recent activities. Samik said, "Anyone who comes, anyone who makes himself a councillor of Kolkata Municipal or municipalities in Baranagar, Kamarhati, Bidhannagar, and the party will silently accept it? This cannot be allowed to happen. Encroachment politics will not be allowed."

He also said that the report would have to be submitted to state general secretary Amitabh Chakraborty. The report has been sought by the end of Monday.

After the change of government in the state, the Trinamool Congress lost control of one civic body after another. On June 12, Gopal Saha resigned from the posts of chairman and Trinamool councillor of Kamarhati Municipality. Subsequently, Dipanshu Ghoshal of Ward No. 8, Lakshmi Biswas of Ward No. 19 and Shyamal Chakraborty of Ward No. 27 also resigned as councillors.

Since Gopal Saha's resignation, the name of BJP leader Locket Chatterjee's elder brother and Independent councillor Sushanta Chatterjee had emerged as a contender for the post of chairman.

Last Friday, the chairman of Kamarhati Municipality was elected with the support of Trinamool councillors. Sushanta Chatterjee's name was finalised unanimously by the 27 councillors present at the board meeting. Thereafter, speculation began that Kamarhati Municipality had come under the BJP's control. Reacting to the development, the BJP state president expressed his displeasure from the public platform on Monday.

--IANS

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