LF boycott Assembly Business Advisory Comm meeting in protest

Unhappy with Speaker Biman Banerjee for not allowing them to move their no-confidence motion against the Mamata Banerjee government on a date of their choice, members of the Opposition Left Front today boycotted the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the West Bengal Assembly.
The decision was taken by the Left parties and announced by the Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra yesterday after the 'No Confidence' motion moved by them was defeated in the House.
"Our plan was to move it (the no-confidence motion) today (November 19). Accordingly a BAC meeting was to be held during recess in the House yesterday," Mishra said.

"But we came to know yesterday morning that the BAC meeting has been slated at 10 AM, leaving us with no other option but to move our motion yesterday only," Mishra told reporters at the Assembly premises.
The Speaker could have allowed us to move the no-confidence motion today (November 19), but he preferred to overcome the hurdle quickly, disallowing the Opposition's request, he said.
Mishra said he even requested the Speaker to extend the session of the House, ending on November 20, for a day so that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could return from Delhi and attend the House during their motion.

"Unfortunately, the Speaker did not listen to any of our requests and allowed us to move the motion yesterday in absence of the Chief Minister," he regretted.

State's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee, however, described as unfortunate the boycott of the BAC meeting by the LF.
"The opposition LF looked so prepared to bring this no confidence motion that the House perhaps thought they could be allowed the earliest possible time," the minister said.
"Chief Minister even told me to communicate them to withdraw it this session and bring it in next session when she will remain present. But the Leader of the Opposition sticked to his decision," Chatterjee said.

"With their boycott of the BAC meeting, business of Left parties in the House will suffer," Chatterjee added.
The BAC meeting, sans LF, today decided to move a Bill on agri-marketing and two non-official resolution tomorrow, last day of the winter session.