Supporters of Trinamul’s youth and student wings protested in front of the Malatipur panchayat in Chanchal-II block of Malda district on Tuesday, alleging corruption in a tender process for infrastructure work of over Rs 1 crore initiated by the Trinamul-run board of the rural body.
Protesters openly asserted lack of transparency in the tender process. As the situation heated up, Mohammad Halim, the Trinamul pradhan, said they had decided to cancel the tender but said there had been no irregularity.
“Some villagers pointed out that they know nothing about the tender. Though there has been no irregularity, the tender has been cancelled would be issued afresh to respect their opinions,” said Halim.
Sources said in Malatipur, political parties in the Opposition had been raising the issue of corruption in the tender issued to install 22 submersible pumps, construct 10 concrete roads and a culvert and set up with plantation in nine different locations.
But on Tuesday, supporters of Trinamul Youth Congress and Trinamul Chhatra Parishad assembled in front of the panchayat office and started shouting slogans against the pradhan and the Trinamul board, a resident said. “It is yet another loss of face for the party in the district,” he added.
Officials at the BDO office of Chanchal-II block said they had ordered a probe into the tender process. “Now that the tender has been withdrawn, the next course of action would be determined as per the norms,” said BDO Dibyajyoti Das.
This is the second time in past one week that Trinamul workers and leaders have raised their voice against panchayats run by elected members of the same party.
On November 25, Trinamul leaders of Kaliachak-II block, led by party MLA Sabina Yeasmin, had held a demonstration in front of the local BDO office, alleging that the Trinamul head of Gangaprasad panchayat had indulged in corruption in connivance with the BDO.