Kolkata, 22 May (H.S.) : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday strongly criticised a meeting held by Trinamool Congress councillors at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), terming it “illegal” and accusing the ruling party of violating civic norms.

BJP leader Sajal Ghosh said the KMC was “not a Trinamool party office or Firhad Hakim’s drawing room” where meetings could be convened arbitrarily.

The controversy erupted after the monthly session of the civic body, scheduled for Friday, was postponed. Earlier, the Mayor-in-Council meeting had also been cancelled. Despite the postponement, TMC councillors arrived at the KMC headquarters. However, they were unable to enter the assembly hall as it remained locked.

According to TMC leaders, KMC Chairperson Mala Roy repeatedly requested that the hall be opened, but the door remained locked. Following this, Mala Roy and Mayor Firhad Hakim held a meeting with TMC councillors outside the assembly hall.

Addressing a press conference later in the day along with BJP councillors, Sajal Ghosh alleged that no opposition councillor had been invited to the meeting.

“You cannot conduct a civic session in this manner by excluding the opposition. The Mayor must answer for this,” he said.

He also accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, alleging that leaders who speak about protecting democratic voices in the Assembly were themselves ignoring democratic procedures inside the municipal corporation.

The BJP leader further questioned why neither the national anthem nor the state anthem was played during the meeting.

“This illegal exercise was led by the Mayor and the Chairperson. If answers are not given, we will not allow the House to function,” Ghosh warned.

He also alleged that several civic sessions in the past had been cancelled for political convenience, including during the ‘Talk to Mayor’ programme or to facilitate Assembly engagements.

Ghosh further claimed that political drama was unfolding inside the KMC and warned that if a no-confidence motion was brought, the Mayor would struggle to retain his position.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey