Cooch Behar, June 8 -- The resignation of two Gram Panchayat heads from Tufanganj-I Block on the same day has sparked considerable discussion in local political circles.
On Monday, Shukla Sarkar Adhikari, Pradhan of Andaran Fulbari-I Gram Panchayat, and Aftar Ali Bepari, Pradhan of Balabhut Gram Panchayat, submitted their resignation letters to the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Tufanganj-I Block. Both leaders personally visited the BDO's office and formally tendered their resignations.
Speaking to reporters after submitting her resignation, Shukla Sarkar Adhikari said the decision was taken purely on personal grounds. "I have voluntarily resigned from the post of Pradhan of Andaran Fulbari-I Gram Panchayat. Due to certain personal and family-related issues, I am no longer in a position to discharge my responsibilities effectively. Therefore, I decided to step down and submitted my resignation to the BDO today," she said.
When asked whether any political pressure had influenced her decision, Adhikari denied, maintaining that the resignation was entirely voluntary and prompted solely by family circumstances.
The resignation of Balabhut Gram Panchayat Pradhan Aftar Ali Bepari on the same day, however, fuelled speculation in political quarters about whether larger political developments were at play behind the sudden move.
Reacting to the resignations, Tufanganj-I Mandal BJP president Jugal Kishore Das alleged that public dissatisfaction was forcing elected representatives to step down. "A government of change has come to Bengal.
Many public representatives, including gram panchayat heads, are resigning to escape public anger. People are demanding accountability and the return of money allegedly taken from them. However, those involved in corruption will not be able to evade the law," he claimed.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.