MAMATA TELLS SMC COUNCILLORS TO SIT IN OPP.

Kolkata chief minister and Trinamul Congress chief

Mamata Banerjee on Monday directed her party’s newly- elected councillors of

Siliguri Municipal Corporation to sit in the

Opposition ending the week- long uncertainty over the formation of the civic

board. The decision was taken during a meeting on Monday evening which Ms Banerjee chaired in Siliguri

after returning from the Indo- Nepal check- post at Pani Tanki. She personally flagged- off 30 trucks carrying relief material for quakehit Nepal. Her clear- cut

direction poured cold waters on North Bengal

development minister Gautam Deb’s desperate attempt at civic board formation with the support of all non- Left parties and one

Independent councillor. Welcoming the development, veteran CPI( M) leader and architect of Left Front victory in Siliguri corporation poll Asok Bhattacharya said it was in the spirit of democracy. “The people gave a mandate against Trinamul Congress. I am glad that they have decided to respect the mandate by choosing to sit in the Opposition,” he said.