Since the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal, good days are not going on for Mamata Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress. After the arrival of the new government, many party workers in the state resigned, bulldozers are being run on illegally constructed party offices, party leaders are being interrogated and many people have also been arrested. Mamata, who lost her seat along with the party’s defeat in the elections, seems to be facing trouble from all sides.
The process of issuing notices for demolishing illegal construction of buildings by the new government in the state is continuing. A police team had gone to the residence of Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee two days ago on Monday to collect security equipment. Kolkata Police officials termed the visit as a ‘routine procedure’. However, since BJP came to power, arrests of local Trinamool leaders have been going on for the last 3 weeks.
TMC office demolished in Hooghly
Another TMC office was demolished on Monday in Konnagar area of Hooghly district. Officials say that this office of Trinamool was built illegally on government land. It was reportedly built by local TMC councilor Khokon Pal and hence it was demolished with a bulldozer.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation has earlier sent notices regarding several properties related to Abhishek Banerjee, and has sought answers regarding construction being done outside the originally approved plans.
Bulldozers in many areas of Kolkata
Meanwhile, bulldozers were also deployed in Beleghata, Bosepukur, Tiljala and Kasba areas of Kolkata on Sunday (May 24). Their objective was to demolish illegal multi-storey buildings that were allegedly linked to former or current TMC leaders and local strongmen associated with the party.
A ‘show cause notice’ has been issued on charges of illegal construction in a building owned by town MLA Javed Khan. They have been asked to show valid documents of the building, failing which they have been warned that action to demolish the building will begin from Monday. However, MLA Javed claimed that there is no legal problem in the construction of the building.
Visiting a site of demolition of buildings in Kolkata, minister Agnimitra Paul said, “Whoever in the government was responsible for overseeing the illegal construction, who built it, erected it and invested money in it, we will take action against all of them.” Similarly, on Sunday, similar action against illegal structures was seen in many other districts of the state including Purulia and Khanakul.
Government action on illegal construction
In West Bengal, BJP came to power in the state for the first time on May 4, since then there has been an increase in the actions of demolishing illegal structures and arresting Trinamool leaders. The government is eyeing many such buildings across the state, including Kolkata, and many of them have already been demolished.
TMC chief Mamata strongly criticized the Shubhendu government on May 24 regarding this action. He also sharply criticized the government over bulldozing action in the state, arrest of party workers, and alleged harassment of many people after the elections. However, many people in the top leadership of the party have mostly maintained silence on these issues.
Round of resignations going on in Trinamool
Trinamool was voted out of power in the state after being in power for 15 consecutive years, yet they still retain power in many municipalities and panchayats. In the last few days, many councilors have resigned and there are some councilors who are in constant touch with BJP and can leave the party at any time. Apart from this, many councilors and Panchayat heads have also been arrested. Trinamool is suffering huge losses due to local body members leaving it.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Bappaditya Das, husband of a local party councilor, was arrested in Suri area of Birbhum. Another Trinamool leader, Abhishek Da, was arrested from Bardhaman on charges of extortion and intimidation. At least a dozen councilors from different districts have been arrested, and many have been interrogated at length by the police.
Whereas in Bhatpara Municipality, at least 30 councilors including the Chairman submitted their resignations on Monday. There are similar reports from Diamond Harbor Municipality that 8 out of 16 Trinamool councilors also resigned. Similarly, in some areas of Halisahar, Kanthi, North Barrackpore and Garulia municipalities, more than half of the Trinamool councilors have resigned together.
Senior Trinamool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar also resigned from the post of the party’s ‘Barasat Organizational District President’, and also took moral responsibility for the party’s crushing defeat in the region. But he also strongly criticized the functioning of Trinamool and the role of I-PAC in its shameful defeat in the elections.
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