Kolkata: An emergency meeting of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) called ahead of the lapse of the 72-hour deadline to appoint an administrator for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) was cancelled on Sunday. The meeting, which was expected to be attended by party chief Mamata Banerjee, was called off as only a handful of TMC councillors were likely to attend.
Banerjee's Plans Change
With the meeting cancelled, Banerjee left for New Delhi earlier than scheduled. The TMC has not formally announced any replacement for Firhad Hakim as Kolkata mayor, and the KMC is likely to have an administrator appointed on Monday.
State Minister's Statement
State municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said, "If we do not get a proper answer within 72 hours, an administrator will be appointed. We are waiting for the answer."
Party Turmoil
Although the TMC holds an overwhelming majority in the KMC with 137 councillors out of 144, a wave of resignations has hit the party since the BJP's win in the assembly polls. Hakim has resigned, eight councillors are behind bars, one is on the run, and a rebellion is brewing within the party ranks, according to sources.
Strategy Meeting
A senior party leader said Sunday's meeting was intended to adopt a strategy to establish the party's claim to the KMC House before an administrator takes over. An administrator would run the KMC until fresh elections in November, following the expiry of the present board's tenure. This was supposed to be the third meeting of councillors convened by TMC leadership since the May 4 results, as part of efforts to retain control of the KMC.
KMC Rules and Internal Disputes
According to KMC rules, if a mayor resigns, the ruling party can field a new candidate who must undergo a floor test. In the first meeting, Hakim was asked to continue in his post. However, in a subsequent meeting, when Hakim requested to be relieved, senior leaders proposed former mayor Sovan Chatterjee as interim mayor.
Hakim-loyalist councillors argued that claiming a stake in the civic board after the changed political scenario was pointless and could further endanger the party's position. "In the event of a secret ballot to pick the interim mayor, and considering a split in the party, we cannot take chances. It may lead to a disaster," said a TMC functionary.
Councillors' Reactions
A KMC councillor from Tollygunge expressed shock at the cancellation. "We were preparing for a fight to establish our claim. But we were told to wait until fresh instructions reached us. We were also told to wait for a virtual meet. We have been kept in the dark about the cancellation of such a vital meeting," the councillor said.
Ward 74 councillor Debolina Biswas said KMC chairperson Mala Roy had called her on Saturday night to attend the meeting at Trinamool Bhavan on Sunday at 4 pm. "I did not give an answer. I had decided not to attend any such meeting... of Trinamool," she said. "Instead of self-introspection, TMC netas are blaming others... a politics of imposition is on. I had even thought of stepping down as councillor but did not because that could lead to problems for the public during the pre-monsoon rains," Biswas added.
