The war of words between Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb of the Trinamul Congress and Siliguri MLA Sankar Ghosh of the BJP continues to intensify ahead of the forthcoming election.
Political observers believe the rivalry may become even more pronounced as both leaders are likely contenders from the Siliguri Assembly segment in the upcoming polls.
On Wednesday, residents witnessed an unusual and somewhat dramatic episode during the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vivekananda School, Siliguri.
Mayor Deb and deputy Mayor Ranjan Sarkar were present as guests at the function and were seated on the dais. However, when MLA Sankar Ghosh arrived at the school premises to attend the programme, the Mayor and his deputy left the stage and moved towards another section of the campus where the mid-day meal was being prepared.
Soon after noticing that the Mayor had left the dais, Sankar Ghosh reportedly chose not to stay at the event. Instead, the MLA, who is also a teacher at the school, quietly left the premises on his scooter and returned home without making any comment to the media present at the venue.
Later, when asked about the incident, Mayor Deb told reporters: “Did Sankar come here? I did not notice him. He should have attended the programme as he is a teacher of this school. I came here as a guest. I moved away from the dais only to avoid the sunlight.”
Interestingly, the same two leaders had shared a cordial moment only a few days ago during the Holi celebrations at a local Basant Utsav programme in Siliguri, where they were seen exchanging colours.
However, political tensions between them have remained high. Over the past several months, Sankar Ghosh has repeatedly criticised the Mayor on several civic and political issues. Recently, he questioned why the Mayor allegedly agreed to welcome the President of India in a manner that, according to him, breached presidential protocol during the visit of Droupadi Murmu.
On Wednesday, the BJP MLA also led party leaders and supporters in a silent protest in Siliguri against recent remarks made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding a “community” issue.
Meanwhile, Mayor Deb on Tuesday criticised the BJP’s Parivartan Yatra, particularly after reports that BJP workers had removed party flags in the Naxalbari area.
Speaking to reporters, the Mayor also posed a series of political questions to Sankar Ghosh. Referring to his ideological shift, Deb said: “My question is to the former ultra-militant Left cadre — why did he change his mind and transform himself into a ‘Red Lotus’? The mystery behind this transition needs to be explained. I raised this ideological question to understand his answer.”
He further added: “I would also like to ask him why, despite being an MLA and having served for five years as a Member of the Mayor-in-Council in the corporation, and now holding the post of Chief Whip, he finished in third position in his own home ward, where he resides, during the corporation election. I would like to know his response on this matter as well.”
Responding to the remarks, Sankar Ghosh briefly said: “I am with the people and will continue to stand with them. I have nothing to say to Gouram Babu.”