Siliguri civic body facing economic blockade: Mayor

Siliguri Municipal Corporation Mayor Ashok Bhattacharya on Wednesday accused West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress of laying a virtual economic blockade to control the CPI-M run civic body.

Bhattacharya, a former state minister, said the corporation was being denied its legitimate dues.

"They are not even releasing the money sanctioned by the Finance Commission," the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader said at a media meet called by the Save Democracy Forum.

The CPI-M-led Left Front is running the Siliguri corporation board since 2015.

Bhattacharya said during the 34-year LF rule (1977-2011) the then opposition parties ran quite a number of civic bodies, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, at various times. "But they never faced any discrimination. The LF government never put any hurdle in their way," he said.

--IANS

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