If everything goes as per plan, the Communist Party of India-Marxist may form the decision-making municipal board in the prestigious Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The only Independent councillor Aurobindo Ghosh, a former Trinamool Congress leader, has “almost decided to provide outside support” to the Left Front for forming the board in the civic body.
The support will help the Left Front reach the majority mark of 24 in the 47-seat SMC.
In the recently-concluded civic polls in 92 municipal bodies, the Left Front has formed the board in five bodies, defeating the TMC. However, the SMC is the most prestigious one after the Kolkata Municipal Corporation as it is considered “the gateway” to North-Eastern India and Nepal and Bhutan.
In the SMC, the Left Front has 23 seats, while the TMC got 17, Congress four, BJP one and the remaining one went to the Independent, Mr. Ghosh.
“I have almost decided to provide outside support to the Left Front for the formation of a stable board in the SMC. The discussion with my co-workers in this regard is almost complete and I will declare my final decision in a meeting with Left Front leaders soon,” Mr. Ghosh told The Hindu on Tuesday.
He added that he received a letter on April 30 from the Left Front seeking his support and in the meeting he would place his conditions of a transparent board.
Meanwhile, TMC leader Nantu Paul, who was made the party leader, denied reports that his party had decided to be in the Opposition.
