Trinamool withdraws support to Congress-led civic body

Trinamool Congress today withdrew support to Congress-led civic body in Siliguri, West Bengal's key commercial town, resulting in failure to pass the budget for current year 2013.
Senior Trinamool councillor Krishnachandra Pal announced his party was taking back support to the alliance-run civic board after Congress councillors created a ruckus in the House demanding the budget be considered as passed.
Even as the din increased, Chairman Nantu Pal tabled the budget for voting and all the 14 Trinamool councillors voted against it.
Congress councillors maintained since they were numerically higher--15--and already publicly supported the budget there was no need for them to formally cast votes and it should be technically considered passed.

In the melee, the Chairman announced the budget could not be passed today.
In the 47-seat SMC, Congress has 15 members, TMC 14 and CPI(M) 17. With the resignation of the ward number 21 TMC councillor three years ago, the seat fell vacant with no by-poll having taken place since then.
Congress sources said the civic board was not in danger and the budget could again be taken up later.
However, Trinamool Congress alleged Congress has lost the right to run the corporation any more.