Malda, Sept. 1 -- In a dramatic political development in Malda, the memberships of 14 elected representatives of Khemur Gram Panchayat in Chanchal-II block has been cancelled, barely 12 days after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Chhabi Mondal became the panchayat pradhan.

The Chanchal sub-divisional officer's court cancelled the membership of the Pradhan, Upa-pradhan and 12 other members after finding allegations of missing GP meetings, against them proven. The affected members include Chhabi Mondal and six other TMC members, BJP deputy pradhan Basudev Bhuiya and five BJP members, besides one Congress member.

The members were accused of remaining absent from three consecutive gram panchayat meetings. TMC member Abdul Haque had approached the administration in May, seeking action against them. Following a hearing on Monday, the sub-divisional administration cancelled their memberships under provisions of the Panchayat Act.

The development assumes significance as Khemur, comprising 27 seats, had returned 16 TMC, eight BJP, two Congress and one RSP member in the 2023 elections. The TMC and BJP subsequently formed the board, with TMC's Shampa Rani Sinha becoming pradhan and BJP's Basudev Bhuiya deputy pradhan. After TMC members brought a no-confidence motion against Sinha, she was removed at a requisition meeting. Chhabi Mondal took charge as the new pradhan on August 19, only to lose her membership 12 days later.

Advocate Harun Ali, representing the petitioner panchayat member, said the court had acted after examining the allegations concerning the members' repeated absence.

Meanwhile, uncertainty has also gripped the Malda Zilla Parishad.

A majority of members removed the Sabhadhipati and Saha-sabhadhipati through a no-confidence meeting on August 17. Though a notification for the election of a new Sabhadhipati is required within a month, it is yet to be issued.

Zilla Parishad members Sagarika Sarkar and Samiul Islam, representative of member Saira Banu, warned of legal action if the notification is not issued within the stipulated period.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.