Bardhaman Dot Com News Bureau
Anansol, 19 July 04 :
As a dramatic turn in the political scenario, the Trinamool Congress bought the entire show during the board formation of the Kulti municipality today. The fate of the civic body board had been heading towards uncertainty after the poll results reflected a fractured verdict and none of the parties emerged with single majority. 

The Left Front and the Trinamool Congress made several attempts to woo the support of the deciding factors like the Congress and one elected independent candidate from ward 17 to help ensuring control over the civic body panel. The LF bagged 15 seats out of total 35 seats with the civic body and the Trinamool Congress emerged as the second lead with 12 seats in possession. The Congress managed to win in 5 seats. Two elected Independent candidates however had stated clearly that they would lend support in favour of a LF board. This boiled up political temperature in Kulti as a lone Independent, Dulal Chakraborty who was refused ticket the TMC at the last moment of filing of nomination papers started playing his pivotal importance in the twisted scenario.

Tension sustained in Kulti area for several days as Chakraborty feared chances of ‘political kidnap’ on the eve of final motion. The police had to arrange guards for him. The Congress meanwhile declared to maintain equal distance from both, the LF and the Trinamool Congress. With the time rolling out with consequent changes in the scene, the district Congress realised its potential stake in the Kulti political arena. The party offered Ujjal Chatterjee, the former councilor of the civic body and the leader of the Kulti Trinamool Congress to join Congress along with his elected followers to help an ‘easy solution’ to the crisis. Chatterjee could not brave to meet the Congress demand as his party high command declined to accept the proposal. Finally Tapas Banerjee, the district Congress president had to step down considering the anti-left potentiality in Kulti field these days. Banerjee’s proposal was turned down and the elected five congress men agreed to share the dais with TMC. 

Ujjal Chatterjee, the long standing Chairman with the Kulti municipality meanwhile has proved to be a power mongering personality since past one decade. This was the third time that he became the chairman of the civic body. He has changed political jersey very frequently whenever his political bosses expressed to discontinue with him. Chatterjee a former AIFB leader had migrated to RSP and then gave up political affiliation due to confrontation with a number of senior leaders. He remained as an independent chairman with the Kulti municipal board. He finally joined Trinamool Congress during Mamata Banerjee’s visit to ECL headquarters at Sanktoria as a coal minister. At the concluding show today Chatterjee also proved to be a good manager when the LF was defeated by a single vote. 18 out of 17 votes went in favour of the Trinamool headed alliance. Chakraborty, the elected Independent who was refused ticket due to objection of Chatterjee himself also cast his mandate in favour of him only. 

Chatterjee, after getting re-elected as the Chairman of the civic body leveled charges of bribery against the LF. He said, "they were attempting to buy the elected men here. But they failed as the elected members could understand their filthy motive on time." He also charged, "a local industrialist poured in huge money to buy the members. Now the time has come that he should be taught a lesson." Chatterjee also alleged that the LF headed state government since past three years did not approve Rs 6 crore fund assistance to help all round development of Kulti. The CPI(M) made a cool reaction to the charges brought by Chatterjee. Dilip Sarkar, Burdwan district committee leader of the CPI(M) said, "the result has proved who tried to buy the elected members. We shall seek an inquiry against the entire game the Trinamul Congress had hatched up here."