CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya on Monday took charge as the chairperson of the board of administrators (BoA) to run the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

The former mayor joined the post, along with six other members of the BoA, including his deputy and all five ex-member-mayor-in-councils.

The Congress, which had supported the left Front-run board at the SMC, was not happy with the Mamata Banerjee government’s decision to appoint Bhattacharya as the chairman of the BoA.

“The decision to appoint the immediate past mayor as the chairman of the BoA is an attempt by Trinamul to develop a bonhomie with the Left Front. Surprisingly, we were ignored in the process, even though we took all the burden of backing the LF-run board in the past five years and helped them pass all major decisions,” said Congress leader Shankar Malakar.

“We feel the BoA should have been formed impartially with representatives of all quarters at all civic bodies. But it was overlooked by the state government,” he added.

Sources said there were also differences of opinion among Left Front constituents over Bhattacharya’s post. Bhattacharya said on Monday: “The decision (on his joining of the BoA) had been taken earlier. There is nothing new to comment on it. As far as the functioning of the BoA is concerned, we will make all efforts to handle the Covid-19 situation and will ensure that people continue to get proper civic services.”