Kolkata, 08 June (H.S.) : In a significant administrative development, Chaitali Tiwari, Leader of the Opposition in the Asansol Municipal Corporation, was formally allotted a separate cabin at the civic body’s office on Monday. She officially entered her newly designated office space in the presence of several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors and local leaders.

The development comes nearly four years after the current municipal board was constituted in 2022, during which no dedicated office space was provided to the Leader of the Opposition. The allocation has come just about six months ahead of the next municipal elections.

Following her entry into the new cabin, Tiwari met several municipal officials and staff members.

Speaking to the media, she said BJP councillors had repeatedly written to the municipal administration over the past four years seeking a separate office for the Leader of the Opposition to ensure effective resolution of public grievances and civic issues. She alleged that these requests were consistently ignored.

Tiwari stated that the allocation of the cabin in accordance with rules would now enable her to raise public issues more effectively. She also said she would work to ensure wider access to state welfare schemes, including the Annapurna Bhandar initiative.

Responding to questions on why she was denied a separate office for so long despite being the Leader of the Opposition, Tiwari alleged that opposition members were kept away from municipal functioning to prevent exposure of alleged corruption within the Trinamool Congress-led civic administration. She further claimed that BJP councillors were not given adequate importance during board meetings.

She added that with changing political circumstances in the state, she expected greater transparency in the functioning of the municipal corporation and due respect for the role of the opposition.

However, Asansol Municipal Corporation Mayor Bidhan Upadhyay rejected the allegations of discrimination, stating that all councillors and representatives are treated equally without bias.

On allegations of corruption raised by Tiwari, the Mayor declined to comment, saying that constitutional and legal mechanisms exist to investigate any such claims if substantiated.

The allotment of a separate cabin to the Leader of the Opposition is being seen as a politically and administratively significant development within the municipal body.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh