RURAL POLL ISSUE

Opposition's issue in Tufanganj : Under-development

 

COOCH BEHAR, May 11: The opposition parties made the 'under-development during the regime of ruling party' as their main weapon to fight against the CPI-M candidates in Tufanganj-II block in Cooch Behar. They made non-availability of drinking water, poor power supply, bad road communication system and nepotism and partisan attitude of the CPI-M as their issues for campaign.

 

President of Tufanganj sub-divisional unit of the Trinamul Congress, Mr Hiranmay Chatterjee alleged that the CPI-M did only one thing here. They unleashed a reign of terror in the villages under Tufanganj-II block so that no one can raise voice against the ruling party, he alleged.

 

District Congress president Mr Shyamal Choudhury too said of the CPI-M's atrocities in the villages. He alleged that implementation of the schemes under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act turned as instruments to mobilise votes in favour of the ruling party.

 

It may be mentioned here that out of eleven gram panchayats in Tufanganj-II block, ten are under the control of the CPI-M. The seats of Zilla Parishad and panchayat samities are also of the CPI-M's. In the previous election the CPI-M candidates won in many seats uncontested, but this time no one was able to capture any seat uncontested. It made the opposition camp hopeful about possibility of defeat of the CPI-M candidates.

 

Vice-president of district Trinamul Congress, Mr Niranjan Dutta alleged that in Tufanganj-II block the condition of Falimari GP is worse. The lone mode of communication for the villagers is country boats as there is no bridge. Electrification was done in several GP areas but total coverage is yet to be done. Piped water is still a dream to villagers of several areas and so they depend on wells or not-so-deep tubewells for water, Mr Dutta said.

 

District CPI-M secretary, Mr Chandi Pal who is incidentally a resident of Tufanganj, denied the allegations of under-development. He claimed that noteworthy development was done in Tufanganj-II block. Many new roads were constructed, a large area was provided with electricity and piped water supply came up at different areas during the past years. The opposition parties are trying to woo the voters by negative campaign, he alleged. []