A Trinamul member of the Cooch Behar zilla parishad was expelled from the party on Saturday for allegedly instigating elected representatives in panchayats to table no-confidence motions against their pradhans.
“The party has decided to expel Nur Alam Hossain for anti-party activities,” Giridranath Barman, Trinamul’s Cooch Behar district party chief, told the media in the presence of newly elected Dinhata MLA Udayan Guha, among others.
“We have specific information that he was involved
in persuading elected members of Trinamul in panchayats, especially in Dinhata, to table no-confidence motions against pradhans,” Barman added.
Alam declined to comment, saying he had not received any formal communication from the party.
According to Trinamul insiders, Alam had made Trinamul members of Gitaldaha-I and II panchayats to bring no-confidence motions and remove the pradhans.
“Also, in Okrabari panchayat, he engaged some panchayat members whom the party had expelled earlier, to table the motion against the pradhan. The party cannot tolerate such activities,” said a party leader.
Alam is also a karmadhyaksha (member in charge of departments) at the zilla parishad.
Also the former Trinamul president of Dinhata-I block, he faced expulsion earlier after a woman had filed a complaint against him, accusing him of intimidating her.
“He had told us then that he would correct himself… He is well aware of party’s decision that such motions cannot be tabled in panchayats where we have majority, and yet made moves that can help our rivals. We had no other option but to expel him,” Guha said.
Jagadish Barma Basunia, the Trinamul MLA of Sitai under Dinhata subdivision of the district, however stood by Alam.
“I don’t think someone can be expelled in such a manner without seeking a clarification from him. Nur Alam Hossain has been with the party during hard times,” the MLA said.
Sources said at the Assembly elections held earlier this year, Alam was instrumental to ensure Basunia’s win.