Cooch Behar, Oct. 14 -- Himani Ishore was elected the new Sabhadhipati of Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad (ZP) on Wednesday, securing the support of 19 of the 20 members present during the election. She had earlier won on a Trinamool Congress (TMC) ticket. However, the process to elect the Sahakari Sabhadhipati could not be completed as no member was present at the scheduled time for the election, leaving the deputy post vacant for now.
After her election, Ishore said her priority would be to work for the development of the people. "Our main goal is to work for the development of the people. There is a double-engine government in the state. We have to work with them," she said. However, she did not give a clear answer when asked which faction of the Trinamool Congress she represented, stating that elected public representatives should focus on working for the people.
Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad has 34 seats. In the last Panchayat elections, the Trinamool Congress won 32 seats, while the BJP secured two. Following the change in the political equation within the state, Zilla Parishad members moved a no-confidence motion against the then Sabhadhipati, Sumita Barman, and Sahakari Sabhadhipati, Abdul Jalil Ahmed. The motion was subsequently passed at a meeting. According to sources, one of the two BJP members of the Zilla Parishad could be considered for the Sahakari Sabhadhipati post, although no final decision has been taken. Neither of the two BJP members attended the Sabhadhipati election. Cooch Behar district BJP president Abhijit Barman said they had not obstructed the process because people were facing difficulties and those entrusted with responsibility should work for public welfare. He, however, declined to clarify who might be elected Sahakari Sabhadhipati.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.