Hundreds of CPM supporters led by leaders like Asok Bhattacharya and Jibesh Sarkar hit the streets here on Friday and marched to the headquarters of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), protesting alleged failure of the Trinamul-run civic board to provide basic services to the residents of the city.

The protesters wielding CPM flags and shouting slogans against the civic board jostled with police at the entrance to the SMC building, breached the barricades and stormed inside.

“The new civic board here was formed six months ago and so far, it has failed to provide even the basic services to people. That is why we held a protest march and a demonstration today. We wanted to meet the mayor but he refused and instead, convened a monthly meeting of the board. He also tried to prevent our march with the help of police but failed,” said Bhattacharya, a former mayor.

Since morning, police personnel had been posted at the SMC headquarters. They had set up iron rails to stop the protesters from entering inside. However, as the rally reached the spot, the Left supporters jostled with the police and could break the barricades. Saman Pathak, the Darjeeling district CPM secretary, said the party would organise similar protest programmes in the coming days, too.

“The civic board is also depriving senior citizens and widows of monthly pensions. Even basic services like issuing birth and death certificates is irregular. Ahead of the civic polls, Trinamul had made major promises to people but couldn’t deliver,” said Pathak.Gautam Deb, the mayor, however, brushed aside the allegations.

“What they (CPM) did here today in the name of protest is disappointing. It is because of such moves that the party doesn’t have a single MLA. Residents here are well aware of a series of initiatives which we took in the past few months for the improvement of civic services,” he said.