Cooch Behar, July 9 -- Political tensions escalated in Cooch Behar on Thursday as the BJP demanded the resignation of Cooch Behar Municipality chairman Dilip Saha, alleging that residents were being deprived of civic services due to the alleged absence of the chairman and councillors. The party warned of a larger public agitation if he failed to step down within 24 hours.
A large number of BJP workers, including women supporters, demonstrated outside the municipality, alleging that beneficiaries were not receiving funds under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme. The protest was led by BJP Cooch Behar North and South Town Mandal presidents Debashish Raut and Gadadhar Das, along with Manas Ghosh, BJP Yuva Morcha vice-president Shubhjit Saha and other leaders.
Debashish Raut alleged that one councillor was in jail on corruption charges, while the chairman and other councillors were not attending the municipality regularly, affecting public services and delaying the implementation of welfare schemes. He warned that the BJP would intensify its agitation if the chairman did not resign within 24 hours.
Rejecting the allegations, Dilip Saha described them as politically motivated. "I could not attend the municipality for the last two days due to illness, but I regularly discharge my responsibilities. There is no rule requiring councillors to remain present every day, and municipal services are functioning normally," he said.
In a separate incident, local women staged a protest outside the residence of Rajahat-Takagach Gram Panchayat Pradhan Rumi Barman, demanding her resignation over alleged corruption in government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and irregularities in development works.
BJP panchayat member Saugat Ghosh said party leaders reached the spot after learning of the protest and attempted to calm the situation.
Denying the allegations, Rumi Barman said she had never been involved in corruption and had always worked in the interest of the people. However, she added that she was willing to resign considering the prevailing situation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.