A majority of members at a Trinamul Congress-run gram panchayat in South 24-Parganas on Friday moved a no-confidence motion against the chief, accusing him of malpractices and anti-people activities.

The development comes in the backdrop of chief minister Mamata Banerjee repeatedly sending out messages to Trinamul workers and leaders on the party’s stand against corruption.

Ten members at the 16-seat Netra gram panchayat submitted the no-confidence motion to the Diamond Harbour 1 block development officer against Odut Gaji, the chief of the rural body.

Although the gram panchayat falls in Diamond Harbour 1 block, it is not part of Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat whose MP Abhishek Banerjee is the all India general secretary of Trinamul.

“It is to inform you that we all Trinamul members of Netra gram panchayat are hereby expressing our no confidence in chief Odut Gaji for his anti-people activities that have been hampering the development of the area. We request you to call a meeting demanding the removal of the gram panchayat chief according to the panchayat act,” the letter seeking the no-confidence motion reads.

The Trinamul members who wanted the removal of Gaji said they were forced to bring the no-confidence motion as they had failed to get any reply from senior leadership after lodging complaints of corruption against Gaji and a zilla parishad member, who is an observer of the Netra rural body.

“The panchayat chief is involved in extortion and we have proof of his malpractices. We repeatedly informed our MLA Giyasuddin Mollah but did not get a proper response. The zilla parishad member is also hand-in-gloves with the panchayat chief in his malpractices. Finally, we were forced to bring a no-confidence motion against him,” said Rahamat Sanpui, a Trinamul member who moved the no-confidence motion.

Officials said according to the gram panchayat act, the BDO would call a meeting where all members would be present to cast their votes for or against the removal of the chief of a gram panchayat.

Magrahat West MLA Mollah reached Netra on Friday evening in a bid to resolve the issue.

“It is really unfortunate that the members moved a no-confidence motion against the party-run gram panchayat.… I discussed the matter with the villagers who are with the present panchayat chief. However, we have no problem if most of the members vote against the panchayat chief,” said Molla.